Degenerate Art: Hitler's War on Modernism
Friday, January 17, 2014
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Pablo Picasso was one of the artists whose work Hitler labeled "degenerate." This painting, 'Le sauvetage,' is from 1932. (© 2011 Estate of Pablo Picasso/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York . Photo Robert Bayer, Basel , courtesy Gagosian Gallery , New York)
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An upcoming museum exhibition and film remind us that German
dictator Adolf Hitler declared a war on modern art, branding it as
"degenerate," seizing it from private owners, and often selling it to
help finance the Third Reich.
In the summer of 1937 Hitler organized an infamous art show in Munich — “Degenerate Art” — that brought together more than 600 works by Cubists, Surrealists and other modern artists, says WNYC's art critic Deborah Solomon. Hitler hated Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and just about every artist who experimented with abstract painting.
Hitler went on to sell those works, and to this day they are still popping up in private homes, and even at the German Parliament.
Solomon said the new movie The Monuments Men, featuring George Clooney, and an upcoming exhibit at the Neue Gallery bring back to the table the issue of Hitler's deep impact in the arts. Not his taste, she said, so much as the way he elevated the power of the state and forbid free expression. Solomon said Hitler himself was a frustrated artist, who applied to art school in Vienna and was turned down. "It's often said that history would have been very different had he been accepted to school."
In the summer of 1937 Hitler organized an infamous art show in Munich — “Degenerate Art” — that brought together more than 600 works by Cubists, Surrealists and other modern artists, says WNYC's art critic Deborah Solomon. Hitler hated Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and just about every artist who experimented with abstract painting.
Hitler went on to sell those works, and to this day they are still popping up in private homes, and even at the German Parliament.
Solomon said the new movie The Monuments Men, featuring George Clooney, and an upcoming exhibit at the Neue Gallery bring back to the table the issue of Hitler's deep impact in the arts. Not his taste, she said, so much as the way he elevated the power of the state and forbid free expression. Solomon said Hitler himself was a frustrated artist, who applied to art school in Vienna and was turned down. "It's often said that history would have been very different had he been accepted to school."
Guests:
Deborah SolomonHosted by:
Soterios JohnsonMore in:
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Gisele Regatao, Executive Producer, WNYC News
Gisele Regatao is the Executive Producer for WNYC News, where she oversees a team of producers and hosts, and the local content for Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She is also in charge of the cultural coverage coming out of the Newsroom.
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