When the topic of war arises, the destruction or manipulation of art being used as a weapon is not the first thing that comes to mind. However, it plays more of a significant role than one would expect.
In 1937, the Nazi party launched two art exhibitions in Munich, Germany. The first one was called the Great Exhibition of German Art and included several realistic works of art, pleasing Hitler. In contrast, the other exhibition, only a few hundred meters away, was known as the Nazi Degenerate Art Exhibition because it displayed modern, abstract, and non-representational artwork, which the Nazis saw as, "degenerate". It was intended to cause a negative reaction towards the artwork as insulting words and phrases were written all over the walls, criticizing the art and artists. Separate rooms displayed works that varied from sexist and anti-military to inherently profane artwork by Jewish artists. Figure 1 shows the graffiti on the wall directed at the artwork. …show more content…
After being twice rejected from Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts, he viewed art more harshly. The Degenerate Art Exhibit was his way of getting revenge, stating that, "works of art which cannot be understood in themselves […] will never again find their way to the German people". Over a million fascinated visitors showed up at the exhibit, mainly because they realized this could have been their last chance to see this type of art in Germany, proving how effective the use of art as a weapon of war can be. It was one of the most infamous exhibitions of the 20th century and most attended at the
In 1937, the Nazi party launched two art exhibitions in Munich, Germany. The first one was called the Great Exhibition of German Art and included several realistic works of art, pleasing Hitler. In contrast, the other exhibition, only a few hundred meters away, was known as the Nazi Degenerate Art Exhibition because it displayed modern, abstract, and non-representational artwork, which the Nazis saw as, "degenerate". It was intended to cause a negative reaction towards the artwork as insulting words and phrases were written all over the walls, criticizing the art and artists. Separate rooms displayed works that varied from sexist and anti-military to inherently profane artwork by Jewish artists. Figure 1 shows the graffiti on the wall directed at the artwork. …show more content…
After being twice rejected from Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts, he viewed art more harshly. The Degenerate Art Exhibit was his way of getting revenge, stating that, "works of art which cannot be understood in themselves […] will never again find their way to the German people". Over a million fascinated visitors showed up at the exhibit, mainly because they realized this could have been their last chance to see this type of art in Germany, proving how effective the use of art as a weapon of war can be. It was one of the most infamous exhibitions of the 20th century and most attended at the