What is Neue Sachlichkeit ("New Objectivity Movement")?
"Neue Sachlichkeit" or "New Objectivity" movement is art movement in Germany around the 1920s as a challenge of expressionism, and the contrast of expressionism and abstractism. This movement reflected the resignation and cynicism of the post-World War I period in Germany. At the time, Germany was really popular and had a lot of cities and cultural center, so art was able to flourish regionally. There was no single dominant cultural center, in contrast with Paris, and may have contributed to a lack of attention and recognition by the art community outside Germany. There was only a wide variety of styles of art. During this time, Expressionist art returned in Germany in the early Postwar period. As expressionism was supposed to highlight spiritual or emotional values, many of its supporters became serious of the commercialism occurring. By 1919, the burden against Expressionism began to build. Soon Expressionist and Modernist styles from artists in various parts of the country were being abandoned. The Germans favored the Nazarenes and other artist of the German Romantic Movement. Many German artists of this time also followed developments in Italy. Original title was for the New Objectivity movement was Post-Expressionism. It was from 1920 – 1925--the years of economic and political instability--that the beginning groups of Neue Sachlichkeit had spread in Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Cologne, and Hannover. The style’s name came from a groundbreaking exhibition by curator Gustav Hartlab in 1925.
Neue Sachlichkeit offered a return to unsentimental reality and a focus on the objective world. It was more abstract, romantic, or idealistic tendencies (of Expressionism). There were many people that include Neue Sachlichkeit in there work, such as:
There are 3 main styles of Neue Sachlichkeit:
Although many Neue Sachlichkeit artists continued working on those styles after the 1920s, the movement itself ended with the rise of Nazism.
Neue Sachlichkeit offered a return to unsentimental reality and a focus on the objective world. It was more abstract, romantic, or idealistic tendencies (of Expressionism). There were many people that include Neue Sachlichkeit in there work, such as:
- Max Beckmann
- Otto Dix
- George Grosz
- Georg Schrimpf
- Alexander Kanoldt
- Carlo Mense
- George Scholz
- Heinrich Davringhausen
There are 3 main styles of Neue Sachlichkeit:
- Veristic - socially critical/bitter works (practiced by: Grosz, Dix, & Beckmann)
- Monumental/classical - smooth, cold, & static qualities (practiced by: Schrimpf, Kanoldt, Mense, and Davringhausen)
- Magic Realism - kind of its own category, became very influential and spread though the Americas and other European countries, representational with elements of fantasy, often typified by amazing detail and sharp focus
Although many Neue Sachlichkeit artists continued working on those styles after the 1920s, the movement itself ended with the rise of Nazism.
Artist Work Analysis
This work falls under paintings. Beckmann uses dark colors and paints a stern and firm face while holding a cigarette. This is a realistic piece of art. He presented himself as a successful businessman, and has a red polkadot sash on his left side. Even though this might be meaningless, this shows an implicit reference to the outfit of a clown. It's supposed to mock and criticize his “mask of authority”, saying that “everything’s a mask, everything’s a joke, nothing of great value”.
When I see this, I feel gloomy and sad. The stern face the painting is showing makes it a little scary, too.
When I see this, I feel gloomy and sad. The stern face the painting is showing makes it a little scary, too.
Commentary
I think the New Objectivity movement was a inspirational movement for German Expressionists artists because there was a new form of art that was new and popular and everyone wanted to do it, but some wanted to stick with their old styles. As time went on, Neue Sachlichkeit went from underground to trendy during World War I. I think it caught a lot of people’s attention because of the style that was interpreted which was dark colors, sharp lines, and real/abstract features on people. I think the art in this period was really cool and interesting because in modern days, there are little characteristics that you can find in some modern art of Neue Sachlichkeit.
The video below shows more artwork on Neue Sachlichkeit: