The Impact of Nazi-Era Exiled Artists on Modern German Art

Newswise — Western Illinois University art historian Keith Holz presents a new and insightful discussion on the political and cultural impact of Nazi-era exiled artists who helped shape modern German art in his new book, "Modern German Art for Thirties Paris, Prague, and London: Resistance and Acquiescence in a Democratic Public Sphere."

The 384-page volume, which includes 84 reproductions and six color plates, was published in November 2004 by the University of Michigan Press.

While much research has been done on the influx and influence of German artists and intellectuals who came to the United States following Hitler's rise to power in 1933, little, if any, scholarship has been devoted to the artists, critics and dealers who fled to neighboring countries, Holz explained.

'The book tells the story of the obstacles the four exiled groups - - two groups to Paris and one each to Prague and London - - encountered trying to educate local and international audiences about modern German art as well as about the racist and illiberal art policies of the new German government," Holz said. "These exiled artists played a critical role in changing public opinion toward National Socialist Germany."

Among the exiles whose art and activities are closely examined in the book are the Jewish painter and sculptor Otto Freundlich, photomontage artist John Heartfield, illustrator Thomas Theodor Heine, painter and writer Oskar Kokoschka, painter Eugen Spiro and painter and stage designer Heinz Lohmar. Also considered are the critical writings on modern German art by Herbert Read, Fritz Schiff and Paul Westheim.

Holz lived in Europe in the late 1980s, partially funded through the Fulbright-Hayes Exchange Program, conducting research for his dissertation which is the basis of this new book. Among the numerous research fellowships and travel grants he has received was a three-month Fall 1996 German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Study Visit Award to continue his research for the book.

In Summer 2004 Holz received another DAAD Study Visit Award to Berlin for his latest research on three private Jewish collections of modern art once based Breslau, Germany - - and since 1945 in Wroclau, Poland - - that were dispersed at the time the Nazis took control of Breslau in the mid-1930s. He is also presently working on several related articles on Oskar Kokoschka that he hopes to eventually collect together into a book.

Through his research Holz has also been able to assist families of Holocaust survivors in recovering some of their artworks and collections, which have been restituted by several German museums.

At Western Illinois Holz regularly teaches courses in 20th Century art, contemporary art and an introduction to the visual arts. He previously taught at the University of Tulsa and has been a visiting professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the University of Kentucky-Lexington.

He maintains a residence in St. Louis, where his wife, Sabine Eckmann, also an art historian, is curator of the Washington University Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.

Holz earned his Ph.D. (1992) in art history from Northwestern University; his master of arts degree (1983) in art history at Vanderbilt University and a bachelor of arts degree (1978) in history at Asbury College.