African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bryan, Sarah M.
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1353179467
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent13531794672021-08-03T05:38:20Z African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century Bryan, Sarah M. Art History History German Expressionism African art Africans in Germany German colonization <p>Beginning in the late nineteenth century, Germany expanded its boundaries to Africa though colonization. Although short-lived, lasting only until World War I, colonization led to new ideas in German Expressionist art. Members of groups Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter copied objects of African origin in their work, including statuary and masks. Most artists were exposed to African culture and imagery when they visited numerous German ethnographic museums and performances. To the Brücke, native peoples represented the immediacy, authenticity, and direct closeness to the natural world that the artists hoped to achieve.</p><p>Germans of the early twentieth century were presented with reminders of colonization through picture postcards and advertisements. This imagery often featured racist caricatures and exaggerated depictions of African culture. Nevertheless, Die Brücke members were less scathing in their depictions of Africans. While most were silent on the issues of colonization, Emil Nolde was vocal in opposing it.</p><p>When colonization ended, groups such as Die Brücke were part of Germany’s art historical past, but works featuring blacks were not. Hannah Höch’s Dadaist photomontages satirized the ongoing fears of white women engaging in relationships with black men. The dissolution of the colonies led to other changes: tribal works were no longer novelties, ethnographic shows disappeared, and many German Expressionist works were seized or destroyed by the Nazis. The surviving imagery, however, is a lasting testimony to Germany’s cultural exchange with Africa as the twentieth century began.</p> 2012 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1353179467 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1353179467 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Art History
History
German Expressionism
African art
Africans in Germany
German colonization
spellingShingle Art History
History
German Expressionism
African art
Africans in Germany
German colonization
Bryan, Sarah M.
African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
author Bryan, Sarah M.
author_facet Bryan, Sarah M.
author_sort Bryan, Sarah M.
title African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
title_short African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
title_full African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
title_fullStr African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
title_full_unstemmed African Imagery and Blacks in German Expressionist Art from the Early Twentieth Century
title_sort african imagery and blacks in german expressionist art from the early twentieth century
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2012
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1353179467
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