Published on the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Neue Galerie
New York, this stunning volume celebrates the varied achievements of
modern art history in the German-speaking world by examining historical
developments in Austria and Germany from 1890 to 1940.
Illustrated throughout with exquisite reproductions of the museum's
holdings, this book considers the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche and
his writings on the fine arts and examines the founding of the
Secessionist artists' organizations in Germany and Austria. Insightful
essays trace the emergence of Expressionism and abstraction, as well as
the development of such movements as Dada and New Objectivity.
Evolutions in architecture and design are appraised through the legacy
of the Arts and Crafts movement, as well as the establishment of the
Darmstadt Artists' Colony and the Wiener Werkstätte. The book also
examines the role of the German Werkbund and the founding of the Bauhaus
school. Finally, the book briefly addresses the horrific impact of the
National Socialists' degenerate art campaign, which resulted in
incalculable damage and led to the exile and death of artists and
designers of the era. From well-known artists such as Otto Dix, Josef
Hoffmann, Vasily Kandinsky, Gustav Klimt, and Egon Schiele, to lesser
recognized but equally important figures, including Albert Birkle,
Alfred Kubin, Felix Nussbaum, and Dagobert Peche, this book offers an
authorative and kaleidoscopic look at a crucial moment in history and a
portrait of radical thought that changed forever the way we experience
art in our lives.
