In 1937, Hitler’s Third Reich held two art exhibitions in Munich: one that showcased Nazi-approved art — mostly conservative, realist stuff — and another that displayed what the party termed “degenerate art,” with more forward-thinking painters like Klee, Kirchner, and Kandinsky.
Now, the Upper East Side’s Neue Galerie is hosting “Degenerate Art: The Attack on Modern Art in Nazi Germany, 1937,” an exhibition featuring works from both shows. According to Rebecca Lewis, a spokeswoman for Neue Galerie, the museum intends not on re-creating Hitler’s exhibit, but conducting “an examination” of it.
Previously, London’s Victoria & Albert museum released a Creative Commons-licensed digital version of the Nazis’ entire degenerate art catalog, which makes for pretty fascinating perusing. The Neue Galerie exhibit opens March 13. “Degenerate Art: The Attack on Modern Art in Nazi Germany, 1937,” Mar 13 – Jun 30, Neue Galerie, Manhattan
