VHS Neuwied transferred to Kunsthalle Mannheim
Peeking into the Centennial Showcase: A Fresh Perspective on 'New Objectivity'
It's 2025, a hundred years since Gustav Hartlaub, the young visionary, coined the term "New Objectivity" for a groundbreaking art movement in Germany during the Weimar Republic. Now, the Mannheim Art Gallery, guided by Hartlaub's pioneering spirit, revisits this captivating period, shedding light on Hartlaub's extraordinary achievement and critically examining the original exhibition, all while acknowledging the female artists previously overlooked.
Citizens of Neuwied can delve into the world of "New Objectivity" on March 6, as the adult education center offers an exciting excursion to the Mannheim Art Gallery. This exploration offers a chance to see how "New Objectivity" remains relevant today, addressing pressing themes of the time such as social injustices after World War I, political turmoil, and post-war economic disruptions.
The art of "New Objectivity" reveals itself through striking depictions of daily life, rapid industrialization, emerging mobility, and the evolving portrayal of women, reflecting the era's tumultuous origins. The exhibition displays an extensive collection of works by over 100 celebrated German artists of the early 20th century. In addition to the Mannheim Art Gallery, the journey back also includes a guided tour of the former Augustinian Canons' monastery in Pfaffen-Schwabenheim. Known for its stunning late Romanesque architecture, the collegiate church is a awe-inspiring sight, and the sacristy is renowned for its magnificent stucco work.
Interested individuals can now sign up for the art excursion at vhs Neuwied. Registration can be done online, by phone, via email, or in person during the vhs's opening hours.
"New Objectivity" is characterized by a stark, sometimes critical or disillusioned, reflection of reality, as exemplified by Otto Dix's "Portrait of Dancer Anita Berber."
Note:The "Centennial Exhibition: 100 Years of ‘New Objectivity’" in Mannheim loosely coincides with the "Neue Sachlichkeit / New Objectivity" exhibition at New York’s Neue Galerie, which presents works from the era spanning various mediums like paintings, sculptures, and designer objects [1][4]. This major show aims to capture the spirit of the period, with a focus on the critical and reflective mood that emerged after World War I and the Weimar Republic [4]. The exhibition also highlights the movement's artistic innovations and engagement with contemporary issues, particularly themes of industrialism, playfulness, and the relationship between art and society [4].
Reference:
[1] "Neue Sachlichkeit at Neue Galerie New York." Neue Galerie New York, www.neuegalerie.org/exhibitions/neue-sachlichkeit.
[2] "Exhibition: Neue Sachlichkeit / New Objectivity." The Art Newspaper, www.theartnewspaper.com/exhibition-news/neue-sachlichkeit-at-neue-galerie-new-york.
[3] "Neue Sachlichkeit / New Objectivity." MoMA, www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5413.
[4] "New Objectivity." Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2025/new-objectivity.
[5] "The Importance of ‘New Objectivity’ in Post World War I Art." The Art Story Foundation, www.theartstory.org/movement-neue-sachlichkeit.htm.
[6] "New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit)." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nsach/hd_nsach.htm.
The Centennial Exhibition: 100 Years of ‘New Objectivity’ also includes a showcase of home-and-garden items, offering a glimpse into the Other lifestyle of the people during that period. One can explore the representation of domesticity and industrialization through designer objects, reflecting the same themes as the paintings and sculptures in the exhibition.
