The Maltz Museum’s latest special 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 to sway public opinion. This world-renowned exhibition will only be on view at the Maltz Museum until April 20. Now is the time to visit and see it before it moves to its next destination.
Seeing original works from the world’s greatest artists alone is a great reason to visit. But, if that doesn’t convince you, here are three more reasons you don’t want to miss this special exhibition at the Maltz Museum.
1. Explore why the Nazis targeted modern art.
The artwork produced in the early 20th century reflected the tumultuous period surrounding World War I. Themes depicted some of the grittier aspects of life, like poverty, strife, and destruction. Rather than glorifying a “perfect” world, the art of the time reflected the lived experiences of people from all walks of life—Jewish and otherwise.
When the Nazis gained control of Germany in 1933, they began coordinating and synchronizing all aspects of German life to align with the values of the Nazi party. The regime wanted to rid the world of modern art as a part of that effort because they said it glorified the degenerate, and this kind of expression had no place in our world.
2. Understand the tactics used to influence public opinion.
One way the Nazi’s controlled the people of Germany was by manipulating culture. Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi’s propaganda minister, spearheaded the Degenerate Art Show in Munich to give German society a look at what they deemed a “house of horrors.” The primary goal of this exhibition was to convince the public that modernist artwork was dangerous and produced by inferior, criminal minds that sought to destroy Germany. Visitors can see footage from this event at the Maltz Museum’s exhibition.
3. See famous artwork that survived the Nazi purge.
For those who aren’t familiar with what the Nazi’s did leading up to and during World War II: The regime removed more than 20,000 artworks from museums and private collections. Some were destroyed, others were sold to fund the Nazi war machine, despite the regime’s insistence it wasn’t selling art to fund warfare. In 1939, the Nazis even burned more than 5,000 paintings they couldn’t sell.
DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art gives visitors the chance to see rare artworks that survived the Nazi purge—extraordinary given the regime’s destructive power. The events surrounding World War II and the Holocaust are grim evidence of just how far they can go with unchecked military power.
Remember: The Nazis were responsible for the deaths of an estimated 75 – 80 million people worldwide during World War II. Today, these lessons remain essential and can help us address the challenges we face—in America and around the world.
DEGENERATE! Hitler’s War on Modern Art is FREE for Museum Members!
Information for this article was sourced from the BBC, Degenerate art: Why Hitler hated modernism, the Holocaust Encyclopedia, “Degenerate” Art, and background provided by the exhibition presenter, the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee.
