Art in the Third Reich

Art in the Third Reich is based upon Hitler’s conception of the state as a work of art in itself. Hitler makes a concerted effort to mold German society into an embodiment of his artistic ideals - beauty, perfection, and purity. These ideals become the distinguishing characteristics of ‘good art’ during this period and subsequently define Hitler’s fascist aesthetic. By placing emphasis on the beautification of society, the Third Reich seeks to purge Germany of its perceived imperfections and impurities, namely the Jews and mentally ill. Thus, ‘bad art’ in the Third Reich becomes synonymous with all art that conflicts with Hitler’s resolute ideals. The Degenerate Art exhibition of 1937 aligned ‘bad art’ with modernism, drawing parallels between the mentally ill and modern art in order to portray such individuals as detriments to the purity and strength of German society. As a result, ‘good art’ was limited to Hitler’s canonical standards of perfection, effectively inculcating his fabricated, fascist propaganda into the minds of a nation.