Franz Radziwill and the contradictions of German art history, 1919-45
By: James A. van Dyke
Contributors: Radziwill, Franz, 1895-1983
Series: Social history, popular culture, and politics in Germany; Social history, popular culture, and politics in Germany
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Ann Arbor [Mich.]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780472116287
Subjects: Painters; Artistic Dissenters; Criticism and interpretation; National socialism and art; Biography
Description: In this book, the author tells the story of a well-known modern artist who regarded modernity and civilization with deep ambivalence during the 1920s and then for a time became a strong supporter of National Socialism. Radziwill's art, politics, and career are embedded in the debates about the definition of German art and state art policy in and after Hitler's rise. Challenging the monolithic view of "the Nazis," this book details how a painter could be championed by certain powerful National Socialists and be seen as a "degenerate" artist by others, how he could criticize the state and yet fight for the Fatherland, and how the unevenness of Hitler's state could foster hope and resistance even in a man who ultimately was deeply distressed by events.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [233]-257) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction. Reactionary modernism and the problem of Nazi art; title: Building a career : the modern traditionalist, 1919-33; title: Attacking the system : the conservative revolutionary, 1930-34; title: Negotiating the Hitler state : the degenerate party member, 1935-45; title: Conclusion. Demonizing national socialism : the retrospective prophet after 1945.