That assessment is cruel and unhelpful, isn't it? I picture the person delivering it in arch tones, one eyebrow raised, lips pursed, feeling smugly superior. Maybe they should share some small portion of the blame for the monster Hitler became. Or didn't become - perhaps it was always there, but he might have suppressed it in favor of art.

Critics of Hitler's art, today, can't help but have their opinions tainted and tempered by his later, heinous, murderous acts. Not if they know who the artist is, anyway. But ask those who don't know, and their response is largely positive.