The Degenerate Art Exhibition and the Great German Art Exhibition
The Degenerate Art Exhibition and the Great German Art Exhibition
Since early history and until today, Art has been one of people’s ultimate ways of expression and communication. However, and due to numerous atrocities, artists have long suffered from criticism, ridicule and even oppression. Perhaps one of the most known examples of such injustices is the Degenerate Art exhibition which was hosted in Germany in 1937 and aimed to label the works displayed in it as degenerate, corrupt and impure. Contrariwise, another exhibition named the Great German Art Exhibition was hosted one day before, and it was meant to show the public what was considered as the appropriate and ideal art; the models to follow. These two exhibitions raised high controversy, as they clearly make one wonder who can determine the value of art and who can label a certain work as artistic or not. Also, and above all, whether there should be standards that define art or should it remain a form of illimited free expression.
To begin with, it must be clarified that Hitler is the one who commissioned the organization of the Degenerate Art Exhibition (in German: Entartete Kunst) and that is mainly because he was totally against the modern arts like Fauvism, Cubism, expressionism, New Objectivity, Impressionism, Surrealism and especially Avant-garde. The reason behind his rejection for modern arts is their experimental nature that is innovative and based on non-conformity, they therefore challenge the mainstream norms and the status quo and encourage social reform, which is clearly not in Hitler’s best interest.
Since he decided that the aforementioned should be labeled as degenerate art, Hitler ordered the formation of a committee that confiscated approximately sixteen
thousand artworks from thirty two museums and other private collections. The confiscated works included paintings, sculptures and even books by one hundred and twelve artists and were displayed in Germany in The Institute of
Since early history and until today, Art has been one of people’s ultimate ways of expression and communication. However, and due to numerous atrocities, artists have long suffered from criticism, ridicule and even oppression. Perhaps one of the most known examples of such injustices is the Degenerate Art exhibition which was hosted in Germany in 1937 and aimed to label the works displayed in it as degenerate, corrupt and impure. Contrariwise, another exhibition named the Great German Art Exhibition was hosted one day before, and it was meant to show the public what was considered as the appropriate and ideal art; the models to follow. These two exhibitions raised high controversy, as they clearly make one wonder who can determine the value of art and who can label a certain work as artistic or not. Also, and above all, whether there should be standards that define art or should it remain a form of illimited free expression.
To begin with, it must be clarified that Hitler is the one who commissioned the organization of the Degenerate Art Exhibition (in German: Entartete Kunst) and that is mainly because he was totally against the modern arts like Fauvism, Cubism, expressionism, New Objectivity, Impressionism, Surrealism and especially Avant-garde. The reason behind his rejection for modern arts is their experimental nature that is innovative and based on non-conformity, they therefore challenge the mainstream norms and the status quo and encourage social reform, which is clearly not in Hitler’s best interest.
Since he decided that the aforementioned should be labeled as degenerate art, Hitler ordered the formation of a committee that confiscated approximately sixteen
thousand artworks from thirty two museums and other private collections. The confiscated works included paintings, sculptures and even books by one hundred and twelve artists and were displayed in Germany in The Institute of