Beuys was one of the internationally most influential artists of the 20th century - and he was an artistic all-rounder. He was a sculptor, draftsman and above all, a performance artist, whose happenings and performances were controversial and attracted public attention. Beuys also made a name for himself as an art theoretician. In his works, he questions the potential and limits of humanism and social philosophy. Against this background, Beuys developed an extended definition of art and in the late 1970s spoke of a "Social Sculpture", which claims the cooperation of society and politics.
In Beuys' opinion, man was a part of the cosmos, with the animals, plants and minerals as his brothers and sisters. He was therefore active - even in politics - in the protection of the environment.
In the "Suite Schwurhand" he predominantly grouped motifs of nature together, and dealt with its inherent energy and its coaction with Man.
