In depth: German art and the Weimar Republic 1918-1933
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Course Code: VB543
Duration: 7 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?
This art history course focuses on a short yet extremely influential period in modern Europe. After starting with the aftermath of the First World War and its political upheavals, we move into the counter-culture of Cologne, the cabarets of Berlin and the various versions of the Bauhaus. We explore the lives and work of artists including Otto Dix, Käthe Kollwitz, George Grosz, Kurt Schwitters, Jeanne Mammen, Hannah Höch, Max Ernst, Anni Albers and Paul Klee, as well as the movements of Dada and New Objectivity.
The course is reliant on developing the complexity of this period's historical context. This social, political and cultural context gives rise to the art we discuss. Therefore, the course develops a general understanding of political events of the period. However, emphasis will be placed on the artworks and artists more than the intricacies of political movements. To develop an understanding of political and cultural context we will also read texts contemporary with the artists we study. Readings will include writings by Richard Huelsenbeck, Rosa Luxemburg and Walter Benjamin among others (in English translations).
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?
• Key artworks and artists during the Weimar Republic
• The development of movements such as Dada and New Objectivity
• Key institutions and places such as the Bauhaus School and Berlin society
• The relationship of art and artists to the cultural and social contexts of the period.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Have better awareness of the key artistic movements of Weimar Republic Germany
• Have a better understanding of the importance and influence of new art forms on the wider cultural landscape of the 20th century
• Show a greater knowledge of the key artists, themes and developments of the period.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels. However, some students may find the readings advanced. Readings are optional, but they do lay the foundation for class discussions. If you do not wish to complete the readings, you can just listen in to the discussion sessions, which make up about 15 minutes of each session.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with lecture slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course and will be available digitally via a Google Classroom.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to buy books to support your learning, but this is not a requirement. You might wish to buy a notebook.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might also be interested in:
Visionary Experiments: American art in the 1940s and 50s.
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. In addition to her current teaching at City Lit, Sarah is a lecturer at the University of Arts London and the Tutor Coordinator for City Lit's Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah's current research is focused on translation and empathy.
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.