Emil Nolde: The Artist During the Third Reich

'The paintings’ glowing colours blaze out from the pages and confirm his status as one of the twentieth century’s most important artists. But this is not a catalogue in the conventional sense; rather, it is a full-scale study of the man and his work, based on unrestricted access to Nolde’s vast archive held at the Foundation created in his name. It shows how Nolde’s self-fashioned postwar legend as a victim of Hitler’s crusade against “degenerate art” concealed his past as a committed Nazi and radical antisemite. .. Nolde’s paintings will never seem quite the same again. And the book caused Angela Merkel to take down two Noldes from her office wall; it’s a major achievement in more senses than one' - TLS

A comprehensive introduction to Nolde's ambiguous position during the Third Reich

Emil Nolde created some of the most powerful works of the Expressionist movement. Despite the fact that his art was represented more prominently than anyone else's in the infamous exhibition Degenerate Art, he continued to be an ardent sympathizer of the Nazi regime and an admirer of Adolf Hitler. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Nolde's ambiguous position during the Third Reich.

In addition, the book takes a fresh look at Nolde's artistic production during the Nazi period, featuring numerous works which have not yet been published or publicly displayed. Eight illustrated essays draw on a wealth of unpublished letters and documents from the artist's estate that offer new insights into Nolde's artistic practices, his political beliefs, and his anti-Semitism, deconstructing the myths that have surrounded Nolde's legacy until today.

One of TLS's Books of the Year.

Details

• Author: Bernhard Fulda
• Hardcover: 320 pages | 250 colour illustrations
• Date published: May 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-3791358949
• Product Dimensions: 30.7 x 24.0 cm