It was in the 1950s that Neumann's earlier obsession with the neoclassically rendered figure was reawakened. His renewed focus manifested itself in a more direct, albeit elegantly drawn, handling of classical motifs and forms. The artist had clearly been studying ancient Greek vases and the simple, lined forms that graced their sides. Neumann's figures are modernized versions of the Greek models; they reveal the influence of a modern stylistic trend that he admired in the work of such diverse contemporary artists as Picasso, Matisse, and Henry Moore, all of whom incorporated simple line drawing based on ancient Greek styles in their handling of the human figure. These efforts produced many one of a kind linoleum and woodblock images. Later in life, especially after the death of his wife, Neumann concentrated on his trademark monotypes and they became ever more abstract. Otto Neumann died on January 2, 1975 in Munich, Germany.