The panel is devoted to a reevaluation of key works of Expressionism. Building upon the multifaceted interpretive possibilities of an autonomous art movement beyond naturalism, selected works by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Erich Heckel are reexamined from an interdisciplinary perspective, opening them up to current arenas of discourse. The individual contributions are guided by the concept of artistic transgression, to which the members of the Brücke were committed in terms of blurring the boundaries between artistic genres. Through the dialogue of panel paintings and murals, serial graphics and poetry, painting, dance, gesture, and performance, the creative processes that serve as a timeless affirmation to keep Expressionism alive to this day will be unveiled.

The panel puts a spotlight on shifts in perspective, the embrace of cultural studies approaches, and the deconstruction of popular narratives that have injected significant dynamism into international expressionism research in recent years. Through critical examination of previously unknown sources, analysis of newly gathered data on provenance and collection history, and exploration of the cultural policy framework within Western museum institutions, the presentations traverse a broad spectrum. They range from reevaluating the artistic assimilation of non-European cultural heritage in the works of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff to examining the reception of German expressionism in the United States and France.

10–10.30 am
Question of the Day: Old questions asked in a new way (DE)
Christiane Remm (Karl und Emy Schmidt-Rottluff Stiftung) in conversation with
Lisa Marei Schmidt (Brücke-Museum)

The panel Nationale Expressionismen focuses on the intersections between German Expressionism, national reform efforts, and National Socialist ideology. It examines the connections between expressionist form and “völkisch” content through the discussion of works that were perceived to be “genuinely German” at the time, illustrating the instrumentalisation of art through nationalist interpretations. The panel also discusses the artists’ decision to choose either stylistic change or stylistic continuity in response to political developments and ruptures, particularly after 1945.

The following workshops are held exclusively on-site and will not be streamed online. However, participation in the hybrid Workshop 4 is possible via Zoom after registration.

The following workshop is held exclusively on-site and will not be streamed online. Participation in the hybrid Workshop 4 is possible via Zoom after registration.

The following workshop is held on-site and will be streamed online. The participation of this hybrid Workshop is possible via Zoom. Due to the limited number of participants, we kindly ask you register in advance >here<.

The following workshop is held exclusively on-site and will not be streamed online. Participation in the hybrid Workshop 4 is possible via Zoom after registration.

This panel will explore the dissemination, reception, and transformation of German expressionism on the European periphery and outside of Europe. Specific focus will be on the intellectual ideas and artistic concepts that were associated with expressionism and incorporated into modernist and contemporary western and non-Western art practices. Examining the spread of expressionism to various local communities, peripheral regions, and non-Western art contexts, this panel will highlight the complex political, social, and cultural dimensions in the reception of expressionism and provide new insights into the role that expressionism as an artistic language played in political activism, alternative cultures, and the ongoing anti-colonial debates.

Dr. Natasha A. Kelly: Black Expressions: „Milli“, Nelly und Sam and Dr. Julia Friedrich: Bild und Gegenbild. Otto Mueller und Peter Nestler im Museum Ludwig, Köln

The Brücke Museum organizes from 1-3 June 2023 the international conference Expressionism Revisited. Current research projects, new questions and methodological approaches that address the challenges in the scholarly contextualisation, presentation and mediation of Expressionism will be presented and discussed. The aim of the three-day event is to promote young researchers, scholarly exchange and networking at the interface of theory and practice.

6:30 pm
Opening Remarks (DE)

6 pm
Welcome (DE)
Lisa Marei Schmidt (Brücke-Museum)
Dr. Cathrin Klingsöhr-Leroy (Franz Dieter und Michaela Kaldewei Kulturstiftung)

The demand for decolonisation of museums and a critical reappraisal of colonial knowledge is challenging established forms of museum work as well as canonised narratives of art historiography. In the exhibition Whose Expression? The Brücke-Artists and Colonialism, the Brücke-Museum addresses the question of how current debates about racism and colonialism are changing the view of the work and lives of these artists. The exhibition “Transition Exhibition” in the neighbouring Kunsthaus Dahlem presents Karl Schmidt-Rottluff’s collection from colonial contexts and takes a critical stance on traditional forms of exhibiting. In collaboration with contemporary artists, new narratives emerge that “re-activate” the artefacts.