1914: The Avant-Gardes at War

The First World War ranks as the seminal political catastrophe of the 20th century, but the sociocultural worlds that collapsed in 1914 into global conflict had long been fragile at best. German painter Franz Marc summed up this bellicose spirit as follows: In our era of great struggle for new art, we do not fight as the organized, but as wild ones against an old, established power. This richly illustrated catalog sharing the personal stories of enlisted protagonists from Klee to Picasso examines the processes of transmission between the international art movements of the time. How were the artists of the historical avant-garde molded or even deformed by the experience of war? More than 40 pitoval artists are featured to support this well-researched project, including Beckmann, Kandinsky, Leger and many more. Essays by curator Uwe M. Schneede and others.

Published by Snoeck, Germany; Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn