Skip to Main Content

 Admission is always freeOpen today: 10:00  to 5:00  Directions             Play Artle            

                  -  Visit                      - Visit
                    - Getting Here
                    - Accessibility
                    - Tours, Guides & Maps
                    - Food & Drink
                    - Gallery Shops
                    - Visitor Policies 
                  -  Collection                      - Collection
                    - Highlights
                    - Search the Collection
                    - Artists Search
                    - Acquisition Highlights
                    - Stories
                    - Games 
                  -  Exhibitions                      - Exhibitions
                    - Current
                    - Special Installations
                    - Upcoming
                    - On Tour
                    - Past 
                  -  Calendar                      - Calendar
                    - Films
                    - Performances
                    - Talks
                    - Guided Tours
                    - After Hours
                    - Fun for Kids
                    - Festivals
                    - Workshops 
                  -  Learn                      - Learn
                    - Teachers
                    - Families
                    - Teens
                    - Adults
                    - Learning Resources
                    - Music Programs
                    - Film Programs 
                  -  Conservation                      - Conservation
                    - Projects
                    - Publications
                    - Resources 
                  -  Research                      - Research
                    - The Center
                    - Publications
                    - Make an Appointment
                    - Archives
                    - Library
                    - NGA Online Editions 
                  -  Support                      - Support
                    - Donate Now
                    - National Membership
                    - Circle Membership
                    - Leadership Groups
                    - Planned Giving
                    - Major Giving
                    - Gifts of Art 
                  -  Shop                      - Shop
                    - Books
                    - Jewelry
                    - Apparel & Accessories
                    - Kids
                    - NGA Custom Prints 
                  -  Play Artle

Home>Exhibitions>Past>2007>Foto

# Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945

June 10 – September 3, 2007West Building, Ground Floor, Inner Tier Galleries G30 through G34

**This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.**

**Overview:** 179 photographs, collages, and volumes from private and public collections in Europe and the United States were on view in the exhibition, which explored the cultural impact of photography in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, and Poland in the period between World War I and the end of World War II. The presentation of works by more than 100 photographers, including László Moholy-Nagy and Hannah Höch, was organized thematically in nine sections: the cut-and-paste world, recovering from war, laboratories and classrooms, modern living, new women—new men, the spread of surrealism, activist documents, land without a name, and the cut-and-paste world: war returns.

Sunday lectures in June featured presentations on art in central Europe. History and the New Photography, a public symposium, was held on June 23. Weekday and Sunday concerts in June and July featured works by Hungarian and other central European composers. Two film series were presented in association with the exhibition: *Modernity and Tradition: Film in Interwar Central Europe* was shown from June 24 through September 2; Sonja Simonyi was curator of the series. *Czech Modernism 1920–1940* was presented from May 12 through June 17. Documentary films on topics related to the exhibition were shown from June 30 through September 3.

**Organization:** The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Matthew S. Witkovsky, assistant curator of photographs, was curator.

**Sponsor:**The exhibition was sponsored by the Central Bank of Hungary and was made possible by the Trellis Fund. Additional support was provided by the Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation, and The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc. The exhibition catalogue was published with assistance of The Getty Foundation. The brochure was supported by Aaron and Barbara Levine.

**Attendance:**  54,605

**Catalog:***Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918–1945*, by Matthew S. Witkovsky, with an introduction by Peter Demetz. Washington DC: National Gallery of Art, in association with Thames and Hudson, 2007.

**Brochure:***Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918–1945*, by Matthew S. Witkovsky. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2007.

**Other Venues:**  Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, October 12, 2007–January 13, 2008The Milwaukee Art Museum, February 9–May 4, 2008The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, June 7–August 31, 2008

Modern Portraits in Photography

                    - Moholy-Nagy, László
                    - American , 1895 - 1946
                    - Höch, Hannah
                    - German , 1889 - 1978

                  - Exploring Photography at the National Gallery of Art
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    September 3, 2007, (7:58 minutes)                                
                  - Modernity and Tradition: Film in Interwar Central Europe
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    August 7, 2007, (7:13 minutes)                                
                  - Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945 
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    August 7, 2007, (8:21 minutes)                                
                  - Press Event:  Foto: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945
                  -                                     Audio, Released:                                    June 5, 2007, (38:46 minutes)                                

### Stay connected

Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.

About
          - About the National Gallery
          - Stories
          - Press
          - FAQs
          - Contact Us

Plan a Visit
          - Getting Here
          - Accessibility
          - Today's Tours
          - Food & Drink
          - Calendar
          - Downloadable Map

Get Involved
          - Donate
          - Membership
          - Volunteer
          - Opportunities
          - Shop Online

Resources
          - Search the Collection
          - Conservation
          - Library
          - Archives
          - The Center
          - Film Programs
          - Music Programs
          - Audio/Video
          - Open Access Images

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

**West Building**6th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed.*

**East Building**4th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 4th Street.*

**Sculpture Garden**7th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive.*

We are closed on December 25 and January 1.

*The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.*

          -  Twitter 
          -  Facebook 
          -  Instagram 
          -  Pinterest 
          -  YouTube 

© 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy