László Moholy-Nagy, am 7(26), 1926 © Urheberrechte am Werk erloschen. Photo bpk/Sprengel Museum Hannover/Michael Herling/Benedikt Werner/Aline Gwose
Democracy and diversity. Launched in November 1918 during the revolution in Berlin, the association of artists known as the Novembergruppe quickly became an influential and innovative player in the art world and public arena of the Weimar Republic. With its pluralist philosophy, the association was open to every style in the visual arts, but also to architects, writers, composers and film-makers. A platform for freedom, democracy and diversity.
Between 1919 and 1932 the Novembergruppe mounted almost 40 exhibitions, published books and organized concerts, readings, parties and fancy-dress balls. In this way the association publicized modernist art on many different levels, providing plenty for people to talk and argue about.
Fritz Stuckenberg, Schwüle, um 1919 © Urheberrechte am Werk erloschen, Repro: Joachim Fliegner
Left: Hans Poelzig, Hochhaus am Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, Berlin, perspektivische Ansicht Standpunkt D, Lösung B, 1921, © Architekturmuseum TU Berlin, Inv. Nr. 2809 | Right: Rudolf Belling, Kopf in Messing (Toni Freeden), 1925, © bpk / Nationalgalerie, SMB © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018
Hannah Höch, Der Zaun, 1928, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin
Karl Völker, Beton, um 1924 © Nachlass Karl Völker, Photo Klaus E. Göltz
Left: Paul Klee, Architektur, 1923 © bpk / Nationalgalerie, SMB / Jörg P. Anders | Right: Rudolf Belling, Erotik, 1920, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker
Otto Möller, Straßenlärm, 1920 © Christoph Möller, Diessen/Ammersee, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker
With 119 works by 69 artists, including 48 paintings, 14 sculptures and 12 models and drawings by architects, this first-ever all-round retrospective at the Berlinische Galerie marks the centenary of the best-known of all little-known creative communities and its dramatic origins.
Alongside avant-garde celebrities like Belling, Dix, Höch, Klee, Mendelsohn, Van der Rohe, Pechstein and others, Berlin’s museum of modern art, photography and architecture will feature many discoveries and rediscoveries, including Dungert, Dexel, Kulvianski, Roeder, Tappert, Völker and Wetzel.
Walter Dexel, Komposition 1923 IV, 1923 © Erbengemeinschaft Walter Dexel, Photo Fotostudio Bartsch, Karen Bartsch, Berlin
Oswald Herzog, Genießen, um 1920 © Urheberrechte am Werk erloschen
Left: Otto Freundlich, Komposition, 1926 © Urheberrechte am Werk erloschen, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker | Right: César Klein, Kreuz vor Barbaren, 1933 © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker
FWassili Luckhardt, Volkstheater, vor 1921 © Adelheid Freese, Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Left: George Grosz, Stützen der Gesellschaft, 1926, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018, bpk / Nationalgalerie, SMB / Jörg P. Anders | Middle: Max Dungert, Turm, 1922 © Urheberrechte am Werk erloschen, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker | Right: Curt Ehrhardt, Um 12 Uhr Mitternacht, 1921, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2018, Repro: Kai-Annett Becker
Willy Römer, Ohne Titel (Rückkehr der Truppen. Die schaulustigen Berliner auf den Bäumen Unter den Linden vor dem Hotel Adlon), 10. Dezember 1918 © bpk, Markus Hawlik
Among the many artists represented are Rudolf Belling, Otto Dix, Max Dungert, Theo van Doesburg, Curt Ehrhardt, Otto Freundlich, Paul Goesch, Walter Gropius, George Grosz, Oswald Herzog, Hannah Höch, Issai Kulvianski, Paul Klee, El Lissitzky, Moriz Melzer, Erich Mendelsohn, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, László Moholy-Nagy, Piet Mondrian, Otto Möller, Max Pechstein, Ivan Puni, Hans Richter, Emy Roeder, Georg Scholz, Kurt Schwitters, Fritz Stuckenberg, Max Taut and Georg Tappert.
The patron is Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin.
The exhibition is part of a winter festival on the theme 100 Years of Revolution – Berlin 1918|19.
Freedom / The Art Of The Novembergruppe 1918–1935
November 9, 2018 – March 11, 2019 / Berlinische Galerie
Please visit the exhibition page >
