XRF examination of the overpainting of fascist symbols in a painting by Erich Mercker

Abstract Erich Mercker was a successful impressionist painter in mid-20 th century Germany. While his illustration of industrial subjects made him especially successful during the National Socialist (Nazi) period, his career lasted from 1920 to 1973. We present the analysis of ‘Die Stätte des 9. November’ and prove that Nazi symbolism was overpainted post-factum. Using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy techniques in combination with a discussion of the historical context we propose that the painting, depicting a Nazi monument, was produced in November 1934 and changed after 1945. This work thus gives the first definite proof of an overpainting in Mercker’s oeuvre.