During World War II, the Nazi regime carried out one of the most extensive acts of artistic censorship in history. Modern artworks were labeled as "degenerate art" (Entartete Kunst), removed from museums, and in many cases, either destroyed or illegally sold. This persecution targeted many 20th-century artists, including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Max Ernst, and Marc Chagall. The regime sought to eliminate any artistic expression that did not align with its ideology, promoting a more classical and nationalist style instead. As part of this effort, artists were ridiculed and discredited. In 1937, the infamous "Entartete Kunst" exhibition opened in Munich, displaying confiscated paintings and sculptures alongside derogatory texts meant to undermine their artistic value. Now, a comprehensive inventory of more than 16,000 artworks censored by the Nazis is available online. You can explore it here. For more historical context on this phenomenon and its impact on the art world, you can also read this article from Open Culture.
List by Elmer Garrido
A course by Krizia Robustella
