The Maltz Museum’s latest exhibition, DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art features famous works by Kirchner, Kandinsky, Chagall, Grosz, Picasso, and more—all labeled as “degenerate” by the Nazi regime. This world-renowned exhibition will be on view at the Maltz Museum from October 30, 2024 through April 20, 2025.
The artworks featured in this exhibition themselves are fascinating, yet equally interesting is the story of how they were used to sway public opinion by the Nazi party.
The movement behind the work
At the close of World War I, the art world moved into new territory in response to great political and societal changes. This tumultuous period is marked by the rise of new art forms, such as Expressionism, Fauvism, and Surrealism. Modern art took on grittier themes, using techniques like abstraction to depict the fallout of the war and political fracture. Established museums were featuring exhibitions with these works by Kirchner, Klee, Kandinsky, Chagall, and others.
When the Nazi party came to power in Germany, these works were branded as “un-German,” because they were believed to contribute to the moral decay of society. Adolf Hitler said this was the art of madmen who glorified filth for filth’s sake. The artwork of particular distaste to the party was produced by Jewish artists or presented the Nazi regime in a negative light.
The power of art as propaganda
The Nazi party didn’t just dislike modern artwork—they wanted to rid the world of what they branded as a societal menace. After Hitler was appointed chancellor in 1933, the Nazis removed more than 20,000 artworks from museums and private collections. As part of a bold public relations move, 740 modern works were exhibited at the Degenerate Art Show in Munich in 1937. You can see footage from this event at the Maltz Museum exhibition.
The primary goal of this exhibition was to “educate” the public on the “art of decay.” The exhibition worked to demonstrate how modernist artwork was the result of genetic inferiority and mental illness—both of which contributed to societal decline. Some of these works were destroyed, while others were sold abroad to fund the Nazi war machine.
The true value of this exhibition
Visitors to the Degenerate Art exhibition at the Maltz Museum have the opportunity to see world-famous artwork that survived the Nazi purge. The fact that some of this work survived is nothing short of extraordinary given the regime’s persistence and destructive power.
Beyond the bold brush strokes and striking visuals, this exhibition shows that art is a mirror that reflects the good, bad, and ugly of the human experience. It asks us to consider the impact of political figures using art as a weapon to spread fear and misinformation— and the disastrous outcomes that can materialize when they are backed by unchecked military power.
Members Can Experience DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art for FREE!
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind look at the ways modern art was used to influence the masses and reinforce the Nazi regime’s hateful designs for world domination.
Resources:
MoMA. Degenerate Art.
The Art Story. Degenerate Art.
