Art of the Third Reich by Peter Adam

by Peter Adam

British filmmaker Peter Adam grew up in Hitler's Germany. In this important book, now available in paperback for the first time, he presents hundreds of examples of artwork that was officially sanctioned by the Third Reich, and which has not been seen by the public since the 1940s. Many of the illustrations are taken from German publications of the era, and reveal how all of the nation's arts--including painting, film, and architecture--were methodically manipulated by the regime into tools of Nazi propaganda. Adam's film documentary of the same name, on which this book is based, received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for Best Arts Program.

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction, Art History, World War II

Paperback

First published April 1, 1992

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

In college a number of read Kinser and Kleinman's "The Dream That Was No More a Dream" for a class that was so popular that several of us attended even though we weren't enrolled. This book, an overview of Nazi aesthetics, was reminiscent of those lectures.

Although film and music are discussed, the focus of this work is on architecture, sculpture, painting and the artists. Adam's thesis is rather simple: There was no such thing as Nazi art per se, rather the scope of acceptable art was narrowed, certain forms being promoted in the interests of the State and its ideology, others being suppressed or repressed. Interestingly, the choices were generally popular, fine art may be said, on the one hand, to be democratized, on the other, to have gone low-brow.

A coffee table book, there are many illustrations, some in color, and the book, overall, is quite heavy for its size, making it an uncomfortable, albeit easy, bedtime read.

[Da1tonthegreat · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the architecture of the Third Reich is well known, its painting and sculpture are not. This book gives a decent overview of National Socialist Germany's artistic output. As expected, the author treats his subject in a condescending and snide manner, but this can be overlooked.

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

What type of artistic medium you are into is going to determine which part of this book you like. I found the first half really dull and boring. The first half mainly had to do with paintings. However the last half which was mainly architecture was a phenomenal.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will put you off creating figurative art. The affliction may last for some time.

[Kelly Paprocki · Rating 3 out of 5]

germans are still embarrassed about what happened

[Sara Ott-Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book when I was looking for information on Nazi propaganda art. It was informative and interesting, but I wish it had less architectural information.

[Amber + Casey]

I used it for a research paper.