Neue Sachlichkeit

c. 1920–1933

Neue Sachlichkeit emphasized realism and social critique. Artists depicted modern life with sharp clarity and detachment. Emotional expression was minimized. The movement reflected postwar disillusionment.

The Pillars of Society

George Grosz

1926

A savage caricature of corrupt elites—politicians, clergy, and press—of Weimar Germany.

Metropolis

Otto Dix

1927–1928

Crowded city life rendered with sharp edges and moral bite of New Objectivity.

Self-Portrait with Model

Christian Schad

1927

Scrupulous detail and unsettling calm expose modern alienation.

Portrait of Margot

Rudolf Schlichter

1924

A cool, hyper-real portrait that hints at the edgy glamour of Weimar Berlin.

Before the Masked Ball

Max Beckmann

1922

Elegant figures and tense glances hint at social masks and hidden drama.