How are good and bad art distinguished from one another in the Third Reich?

The Third Reichs's distinctions between good and bad art are parallel to the distinctions between good and bad in Germany. It seems these distinctions in art, at least at first, were more a reflection of Hitler's personal tastes and beliefs than a strategically planned form of propaganda. Hitler had a true passion for art and his viewpoints came out in his selections of favorite and hated pieces. This however did turn out to be a wonderful way for his ideas to be spread and to, in a way, brainwash the people into sharing his ideals through the use of aesthetics. 

The Third Reich's dreams for Germany stressed beauty and purity. The portraits Hitler viewed as good depicted bodies that were in prime physical form, beautiful, strong, and healthy. He chose images that showed the bodies he wanted his strong men to have, and the soft female figures that seemed prime for motherhood. This goes along perfectly with his efforts to keep his men fit and clean and have women prepared to be wives and mothers.

The Third Reich wanted a Germany that recalled old values and resisted technology and modernism, as well as one that was rid of anything unknown and different. He likewise labeled modern and abstract art as "bad art". Modern art images were correlated with disfigured or mentally ill people, who the Third Reich made an effort to eliminate. 

The Third Reich's opinions on artworks were easily demonstrated through what was presented in museums and shown to the public and what was eliminated or put in the show of degenerate art. The Third Reich was based highly on aesthetics, and this basis didn't extend only to the monumental architecture and imagery used, but also to the artwork that was acceptable and viewable.