How the Museum of Modern Art in New York canonised German Expressionism

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 2014
Journal Journal of Art Historiography
Article number GL1
Volume | Issue number 11
Number of pages 13
Organisations
  • Faculty of Humanities (FGw) - Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR) - Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH)
Abstract This paper will consider why and how the negative attitude towards German expressionism in the USA changed abruptly in the second half of the 1930s. At that time Alfred Barr, the director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, played a crucial role in canonizing this art. In order to gain insight into this volte-face, it will be necessary to consider the reception of German expressionism that preceded it as well. In general, this art met with disapproval for a long time. Although it could be seen in the USA since the beginning of the 1920s, it had only very few supporters and collectors.
Document type Article
Language English
Published at https://arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/langfeld.pdf
Downloads
langfeld, How the museum Art (Final published version)
Permalink to this page
Back