AH 322 - Between Conformity and Provocation: German Art from 1933 to the Present

This course presents German art over a period of more than 100 years. We’ll start off with the so-called “Modern Style” around 1900, then we’ll have a close look at Expressionism before we struggle for the “right-wing” art during Nazi-time and will explore and analyze the conditions of conformity, persecution and exile and the outcome during this phase of time. The following part will be dedicated to the development of German art since 1945, which was deeply influenced by the need for a complete new beginning, also implementing new forms such as abstract art. We will also investigate the ways in which artists in Germany came to terms with the legacy of Nazi-art and how the Cold War and the 80’s took part in the so-called post-modernism. Finally, there will be a revision of recent German art, including photography and sculpture, and we will close with a discussion about what art is or can be.