German art 1910-1960: art, politics & culture in the wake of war
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: VB475
- Dates: 25/01/24 - 14/03/24
- Time: 18:00 - 20:30
- Taught: Thu, Evening
- Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Irina Chkhaidze
Course Code: VB475
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
In this 8-session course, we examine the changing nature of German Art in the 20th century and the impact of key historical events such as the First World War and the Second World War. We study the political backdrop against which the artworks were created, as well as the relevant cultural changes. We focus on artists such as Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Franc Marc, August Macke, Max Beckmann, Käthe Kollwitz, Otto Dix, George Grosz, John Heartfield, August Sander, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Ho¨ch, Kurt Schwitters, Jeanne Mammen, Max Ernst, Hans Bellmer, Unica Zürn, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, HAP Grieshaber, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter, Joseph Beuys and Irma Hünerfauth.
The course is structured around lectures and discussions starting with German art movements such as Expressionism, Dadaism, New Objectivity, New Vision (at the Bauhaus), continuing with art promoted under National Socialism, post-WWII abstraction, and finishing with Fluxus in Germany.
The course can be taken either in conjunction with German art from the 1960s or separately.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
• An overview of prominent German artists and art movements from 1910s to the 1960s.
• The influence of historical events such as both world wars on artistic practices.
• The artistic experimentations with new techniques and media such as such as collage, photomontage, assemblage, installation and performance.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
By the end of this course you should be able to:
· Describe the works of at least six 20th century German artists and identify different German avant-garde movements.
· Evaluate how key 20th century political and social events shaped German art.
· Demonstrate improved visual analysis skills and practice situating artworks in a broader cultural context.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and instructions on the basic elements of Zoom software, like usage of microphone and camera..
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations, group discussions, and short group exercises.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no other costs, but you are advised to bring a notebook to the classes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in:
Art, politics & culture in East and West Germany, and after the Reunification
Friday Lates: Fluxus: a revolutionary tide in art
Friday Lates: ‘the future is now’, an introduction to video art.
Irina Chkhaidze completed her PhD in Art History at University College London. Prior to this, she studied Liberal Arts and gained an MA in Humanities in Germany. Irina has published articles on contemporary art, theories of posthumanism and human-animal relations. She has taught gallery-based courses at UCL, covering 19th to 21st century art. Currently, Irina also lectures on philosophy and social theory at Leeds Beckett University, and teaches on Critical Studies programme at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.