Degenerate art

Degenerate art

This was a term adopted by the Nazi regime in Germany to describe virtually all modern art.  This art was then banned because it was deemed to be un-German or Jewish Bolshevist in nature, these artists were then identified and classified as degenerate artists and were subject to sanctions. These artist were stopped from being allowed to teach, refused the ability to exhibit their art and in some extreme cases, were banned from being able to produce art entirely.

In 1937 the Nazi’s held an exhibition in Munich, which was called degenerate art. It consisted of modernist art works, which were hung erratically, labelled with derogatory comments, putting down the art. The purpose of this was to help change public opinion against modernism, this exhibit travelled to other areas of Germany and Austria.

Although the Nazis did not have a love for modernism, they did have a love of art. The Nazis promoted any art that was traditional in its origin, from paintings to sculptures, anything that promoted racial purity, obedience and militarism. They made sure that this applied to the music of the era as well; everything was expected to be tonal and free from any cultural influenced music like jazz, if it was found to be within a play or film, they would have to be censored.