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Nazi Censorship of the Arts "Entartete Kunst" - Degenerate Art The years 1927-37 were alarming and terrifying for artists in Germany. In 1937 The National Socialist Society for German Culture held an art exhibition in Munich. The Nazis called the exhibit Entartete Kunst, or Degenerate Art. During this time over 22 thousand art-works by more than 200 artists of that time were confiscated. The National Socialist Society for German Culture declared artists of the banned paintings, mostly Expressionists, Cubists, Dadaism, Surrealist, Fauvists, nineteenth-century Impressionist and Post-Impressionist to be insane and morally corrupt. Particularly reviled were: Edvard Munch, Emile Nolde, Oskar Kokoschka, Ernst Kirchner ( Kirchner was so devastated by his exile to Switzerland that he committed suicide in in 1938.) Wassily Kandinsky, Max Ernst, Otto Dix, Franz Marc, Paul Klee, Klee feared for his life and spent his years cast out in Switzerland. The artist unable to obtain Swiss citizenship because of his status as a degenerate artist.) Pablo Picasso, ,Marc Chagall, Max Beckmann and Vincent van Gogh. The Nazis felt that these artist led young people astray and encouraged corrupt ideas. The upper echelons of the SS occasionally got together for 'art burning' parties. They would drink beer and throw darts at so called degenerate paintings, later burning the paintings in huge art pyre. The justification for deciding on what could be classified as "degenerate" art was relatively straightforward and spiteful: any painting or sculpture that was in conflict with Hitler's artistic philosophy, was considered to be "Entartete Kunst". Many historians believe Hitler despised the artists of his day because he was never recognized for his own uninspiring paintings. Hitler's favorite artists included Lucas Cranach, Hieronymus Bosch, Albrecht Dure, Frans Hals, Rembrandt Meindert Hobbema and Quentin Metsys. Hitler felt that these painters upheld wholesome decent standards. In 1937, Joseph Goebbels, Minister for Propaganda organized a public exhibition of banned art. The exhibition was called "Entartete Kunst," meaning, "Degenerate Art." The purpose of the exhibition was to show the public the stupidity, immorality, and depravity of the modern art movement. Main Artists on the The Nazi List .... singled out for special condemnation
Otto Dix German 1862-1942 Expressionist
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