Georg Baselitz's "Heroes" and "New Types" series, created during an intense phase of work in 1965-1966, represent a critical moment in the artist's career and in the landscape of post-war German art. These works are characterized by their monumental, yet paradoxically fragile, figures, which carry an aura of both defiance and vulnerability. The "Heroes" series, in particular, is seen as Baselitz's meditation on Germany's national identity and his own place within society. These paintings depict solitary, often battered figures set against desolate backgrounds, embodying the contradictions and tensions of post-war Germany.

Baselitz's approach to these paintings was influenced by his rejection of the prevailing Socialist Realism style of East Germany, where he grew up. Instead, he sought inspiration from earlier Expressionist and Romantic modes, incorporating near-abstract techniques to create figures that, while rooted in the European portraiture tradition, appeared fragmented and disheveled. This was a deliberate departure from the clean, idealized forms of Socialist Realism, instead presenting figures that were ragged and unformed, suggesting both a state of collapse and the possibility of rebirth.

The "Heroes" series can be seen as Baselitz's response to the challenges faced by his generation in grappling with Germany's recent past and its consequences. Instead of aligning with the Zero movement's embrace of Pop and Minimalist styles, Baselitz revisited and revitalized European portraiture to express the complex reality of his time. The figures in these paintings, often depicted in tattered uniforms and standing amidst rubble, convey a sense of frailty, insecurity, and inconsistency, reflecting the multifaceted nature of destruction and the process of questioning and redefining values in post-war Germany.

While initially provocative, the "Heroes" series has come to be appreciated for its incisive portrayal of Europe in the aftermath of the war. In retrospect, these works are not only seen as a commentary on Germany's cultural and social landscape but also as a foundational influence on the Neo-Expressionism movement that gained prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, especially among artists in New York. Thus, Baselitz's "Heroes," born from the desolation of post-war Germany, stand today as symbols of the country's resurgence in the art world​ (Guggenheim Tour)​​ (Gagosian)​​ (Phaidon)​.