The Weimar Years: A Culture Cut Short

By John Willet and John Willett

Book Overview

During the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) a distinctive culture evolved from the roots of the Modern Movement. It was a unique effort to bring into common use technical and artistic discoveries of the great prewar pioneers from the Cubists to Le Corbusier, and it brought together some of the most original and significant artists, writers, musicians, architects, photographers, designers, and filmmakers.

The pictures assembled here show how this artistic culture originated in the aftermath of the First World War and the unsettled early years of the Weimar Republic, uneasily balanced between revolutionary pretensions and the desire for order. The montage of images--photographs, paintings, drawings, collages, books, and film stills--evokes the period with shocking vividness.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500273111
• ISBN13: 9780500273111
• Release Date: April 2011
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.4" x 10.6"

Customer Reviews

A culture cut short.

The Weimar Years are explored mostly through pictures. We get to see what German artists can do when set free. I usually see this era through UFA. However, there are other arts, artists, and even politics of the time captured here to reflect on. On the other hand, just a little nostalgia for the world we missed. Some of the films are Fritz Lang’s “M,” Marlene Dietrich’s “The Blue Angel,” and “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” Contents: Introduction Upsurge and aftermath 1918 -- 20 The turning point in 1921 -- 3 Sober Reality 1924 -- 8 The culture of cities Economy and Backlash 1929 -- 33 Selective index of names, illustrations, and credits This is not an end-all-be-all book of the Republic but makes a good supplement to your library, and occasionally you will want to look back at the a-d-v-e-r-t-i-s-e-m-e-n-t-s.