Cut with the Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch in Germany
Hannah Höch, 1919-1920
This piece is an unique artwork because it uses photo montage, which is a technique of cutting and pasting images to create a new meaning. It shows a mix of political figures, machines, and words showing the confusion and problems in Germany after World War I.
The Skat Players
Otto Dix, 1920
This painting shows three badly injured World War I soldiers playing cards. Dix uses exaggerated details to show the horrors of war and how these soldiers were forgotten by society.
Berlin Street Scene
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1913-1914
The artwork shows a busy street with many people, focusing on the fast and busy life of the city. Kirchner uses bright colors and twisted shapes to show the feelings of stress and loneliness that many people felt during that time.
The Threepenny Opera
Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill, 1928
This is a drama about a criminal named Macheath who tries to escape the police while facing different types of affection and betrayal. The drama uses satire and songs to show the reality of a corrupted society.
Baal
Bertolt Brecht, 1923
The story talks about Baal, a rebellious poet who refuses to follow the rules in society. He lives a wild life filled with drinking, love affairs, and selfish choices, which eventually lead to his downfall and show the dangers of living without limits.
From Morning to Midnight
A bank clerk suddenly quits his job and spends all his money searching for a new spark in life. However, he realizes that money cannot bring true happiness, and he still feels lost and empty in the modern world.
Berlin Alexanderplatz
Alfred Döblin, 1929
This novel tells the story of Franz Biberkopf, a man trying to start over after leaving prison. But he struggles to live in Berlin as he gets tricked by criminals, makes bad choices, and ends up in dangerous situations that pull him back into a life of crime.
The Artificial Silk Girl
Irmgard Keun, 1932
This novel stands out because it tells the story of a young woman in 1920s Berlin, showing her dreams of becoming famous but facing obstacles such as money problems and the challenges of being a woman in a changing society. It is unique because it focuses on the challenges women faced during a time where they didn't have much attention shined on them.
All Quiet on the Western Front
Erich Maria Remarque, 1929
This novel is unique because it gives an honest and emotional view of the horrors of war from the perspective of young soldiers. It stands out as one of the most powerful anti-war novels, showing the impacts of war on the individual and focuses on the values of nationalism.
The Case of Sergeant Grischa
Arnold Zweig, 1927
This talks about a Russian soldier who is caught in WWI, and is wrongly accused of being a spy and faces an unfair trial. This novel showed a strong anti-war message at a time when Germany was dealing with the aftermath of World War I.
