Artists for the Reich : Culture and Race From Weimar to Nazi Germany

While we often think about talented artists fleeing the clutches of the Nazi regime--forced out or sickened by the strictures placed upon them--we rarely consider those artists who willingly stayed behind. This is the first comprehensive treatment of the German Art Society, a group of artists, authors and right-wing activists who actively embraced Nazism. Theses artists have typically been dismissed as a lunatic fringe, but the author argues that they were in fact instrumental in battling modernist art in defense of what they regarded as the German cultural tradition. Drawing on previously neglected archival material, Clinefelter reveals cultural continuities that extend from the Wilhelmine Empire through the Weimar Republic into the Third Reich and elucidates how theses artists promoted Nazi culture ''from below.'' While We Often Think About Talented Artists Fleeing The Clutches Of The Nazi Regime - Forced Out Or Sickened By The Strictures Placed Upon Them - We Rarely Consider Those Artists Who Willingly Stayed Behind. This Is The First Comprehensive Treatment Of The German Art Society, A Group Of Artists, Authors And Right-wing Activists Who Actively Embraced Nazism. These Artists Have Typically Been Dismissed As A Lunatic Fringe, But The Author Argues That They Were In Fact Instrumental In Battling Modernist Art In Defense Of What They Regarded As The German Cultural Tradition. Drawing On Previously Neglected Archival Material, Clinefelter Reveals Cultural Continuities That Extend From The Wilhelmine Empire, Through The Weimar Republic, Into The Third Reich, And Elucidates How These Artists Promoted Nazi Culture 'from Below.' Rich In Detail And Highly Readable, Artists For The Reich Provides A More Nuanced Understanding Of German Culture Under Nazism.--jacket. Bettina Feistel-rohmeder And The Origins Of The German Art Society -- German Art Vs Weimar Culture -- The German Art Society, The Völkisch Movement And National Socialism -- Artists For The Reich, 1933 -- The German Art Society In The Third Reich, 1934-1938 -- German And Nazi Art. Joan L. Clinefelter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 125-176) And Index. While we often think about talented artists fleeing the clutches of the Nazi regime - forced out or sickened by the strictures placed upon them - we rarely consider those artists who willingly stayed behind. This is the first comprehensive treatment of the German Art Society, a group of artists, authors and right-wing activists who actively embraced Nazism. These artists have typically been dismissed as a lunatic fringe, but the author argues that they were in fact instrumental in battling modernist art in defense of what they regarded as the German cultural tradition. Drawing on previously neglected archival material, Clinefelter reveals cultural continuities that extend from the Wilhelmine Empire, through the Weimar Republic, into the Third Reich, and elucidates how theses artists promoted Nazi culture 'from below.' Rich in detail and highly readable, Artists for the Reich provides a more nuanced understanding of German culture under Nazism. Title......Page 1 Contents......Page 5 List of Tables and Figures......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Introduction......Page 11 Bettina Feistel-Rohmeder and the Origins of the German Art Society......Page 17 German Art vs Weimar Culture......Page 35 Movement and National Socialism......Page 55 Artists for the Reich, 1933......Page 69 The German Art Society in the Third Reich, 1934–1938......Page 87 German and Nazi Art......Page 109 Notes......Page 135 Bibliography......Page 177 Index......Page 187 Title 1 Contents 5 List of Tables and Figures 7 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction 11 Bettina Feistel-Rohmeder and the Origins of the German Art Society 17 German Art vs Weimar Culture 35 The German Art Society, the 55 Movement and National Socialism 55 Artists for the Reich, 1933 69 The German Art Society in the Third Reich, 1934–1938 87 German and Nazi Art 109 Notes 135 Bibliography 177 Index 187