Minneapolis Institute of Art Presents “Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945: Masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin”

How modern art shaped, and was shaped by, Germany’s most turbulent decades

October 20, 2025

Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) invites visitors to explore the major international exhibition “Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945: Masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin” on view in the Target Galleries from March 7 through July 19, 2026.

In the first half of the 20th century, Germany experienced significant social and political upheavals—from the final years of the German Empire and World War I to the revolution, the liberal Weimar Republic, the rise of Nazism under Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust, and the catastrophe of World War II. During this period, modern art played an essential role in shaping public discourse, while politics shaped and often constrained artistic expression.

Bringing together more than 70 paintings and sculptures from the collection of the Neue Nationalgalerie, Germany’s national museum of 20th-century modern art, this exhibition delves into this dynamic relationship between art and politics across four tumultuous decades.

“Germany had a vibrant art scene before and after World War I, and museums actively acquired some of the most innovative works of their time,” said Tom Rassieur, John E. Andrus III Curator of Prints and Drawings. “When the Nazis came to power, many of these modern works were labeled ‘degenerate’ and removed from museums. Artists responded, sometimes politically and often in deeply moving ways. The period from 1910 to 1945 continues to resonate today, offering important lessons about the power of art in times of upheaval.”

Organized into six thematic sections, the exhibition guides visitors through the dramatic shifts in art and politics between 1910 and 1945:

Expressionism: Colorful, emotionally charged works that challenged conservative German tastes in the years leading up to and during World War I. Highlights include Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s Self Portrait with a Girl (1914–15) and Emil Nolde’s Pentecost (1909).

New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit): Precise, sober paintings of the 1920s that reflected the liberal climate of the Weimar Republic, represented by artists such as Christian Schad’s Sonja (1928) and Curt Querner’s Self-Portrait with Stinging Nettle (1933).

International Avant-Gardes: Works by Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Oskar Kokoschka, and others, alongside portraits of influential German dealers who introduced European modernism to Germany.

Modes of Abstraction: Paintings and sculptures from Bauhaus masters like Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Oskar Schlemmer, influenced by Cubism and other international movements.

Politics and War: Powerful works by George Grosz, Wilhelm Lehmbruck, and Horst Strempel documenting Germany’s defeat in World War I, the rise of nationalism, and the atrocities of the Nazi regime.

Before and After: An epilogue with works by exiled and “degenerate” artists, including Max Beckmann’s Self Portrait in a Bar (1942) and Salvador Dalí’s Portrait of Mrs. Isabel Styler-Tas (1945).

“This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness the ways artists both reflected and resisted the forces shaping Germany during the first half of the 20th century,” said Katie Luber, Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director and President of Mia. “Mia has long been committed to exploring art’s power in times of change, and with our strong holdings of German art from this period, we are uniquely positioned to present this story to our visitors.”

Organization and Catalogue

“Modern Art and Politics in Germany 1910–1945: Masterworks from the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin” is organized by the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin, and the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas. The richly illustrated 240-page catalogue includes essays, a timeline, detailed entries for individual works, and a comprehensive bibliography. Edited by George T. M. Shackelford, Irina Hiebert Grun, and Joachim Jäger, it features significant contributions by leading German scholars.

Exhibition Details 

For more information on this and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.

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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.

General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.

For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.