ABOUT THIS COLLECTION
"Was God Dead? Biblical Imagination and German Expressionist Prints is a wonderful show that we have been so proud to host. Students and faculty have been truly energized by the work on display. The printmaking class made small lino carved and printed responses to favorite themes in the show, drawing classes, art history…you name it…everybody loves it. Thank you for being such a keeper of our culture with all the shows you send out."
-- Hershall Seals, University of Mary Harden Baker
“God is dead…And we have killed him.”
—Nietzsche, The Gay Science, 1882
“Could it be possible? This old saint in the forest has not yet heard anything of this, that God is dead!”
—Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1891
In the first decades of the twentieth century, the writings of the atheistic philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche were a powerful inspiration for the artistic and literary avant-garde communities in Berlin, Dresden, and Munich. His exuberant affirmation of the “vital forces” of life, anti-authoritarian iconoclasm, and withering condemnation of Christianity inspired artists and writers in their search for a new future that would liberate humanity from the suffocating aesthetic, cultural, political, and religious conventions derived from the Judeo-Christian tradition.
Yet, why does biblical imagery saturate Expressionist literature and the visual arts? Was God Dead? Biblical Imagination in German Expressionist Prints explores this question through a broad survey of nearly fifty works from such important artists as Max Beckmann, Lovis Corinth, Kathë Kollwitz, Otto Dix, Christian Rohlfs, Schmidt-Rottloff, Vassily Kandinsky, and Edvard Munch, among many other important representatives of Expressionism, including key members of the influential avant-garde movements Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter.
Was God Dead? demonstrates the important role that Biblical imagery played in the German Expressionists’ subject matter, which deepened the impact of their innovations in medium and form.
The exhibition shows the importance of printmaking for the German Expressionists, a medium that had fallen out of favor in advanced artistic circles by the end of the nineteenth century. But, as Ernst Kirchner exclaimed, “There is no better place to get to know an artist than in his graphic work.” Not only was it an intimate and powerful aesthetic medium, printmaking also connected the artists to a distinguished tradition in German art, evidenced by the work of Lucas Cranach, Martin Schongauer, and most importantly, Albrecht Dürer (included in the exhibition). The legacy of the medium was not merely an artistic one, but had revolutionary resonances with the Protestant Reformation, which Luther and Cranach waged through the printing press.
Was God dead? also shows the formal and stylistic impact of native German folk traditions as well as African tribal artifacts (included in the exhibition). The German Expressionists’ interest in appropriating a so-called “primitive” aesthetic was a means to tap into what they hoped was a deeper well of spirituality, feeling, and creative freedom than offered by traditional European aesthetics and culture as preserved by the official art of the academies.
Was God Dead? reveals the continued potential of the Judeo-Christian tradition to influence generations of modern and avant-garde artists. The Bible gave form and expression to the intensity of modern experience, even an experience that, with the catastrophe of the First World War, transformed euphoric optimism into humanity’s potential into the darkest nihilistic despair. These prints show that for the German Expressionists, God was very much alive.
This show contains:
- Over 50 prints, exact number to be determined
- Digital files for each print
- Digital file for the printing of a handout
- Text for labels and didactic panels
- Packing and shipping instructions
- Insurance in transit
- One free catalog for display
- Availability of show catalog for sale
This show rents for $1000 for four weeks. With the rental of two months, the third is offered at no charge.
CALENDAR
August 15 - November 15, 2025Union University 1050 Union University DriveJackson, TN 38305Haelim Allen, hallen@uu.edu(731) 661-5046 February 15 to October 15, 2024BYU Museum of Art 470 MOANorth Campus Drive Provo, Utah 84602Contact: Janalee Emmer
janalee_emmer@byu.eduPhone: 801.422.3297 November 1, 2022 to Feb 7, 2023Roberts Wesleyan College Gallery2301 Westside Dr Rochester NY 14624Contact: Scot Bennett, Bennett_Scot@roberts.edu August 15 to December 30, 2023Belmont University1900 Belmont BoulevardNashville, TN 37212Contact: Dr. Todd Lake, todd.lake@belmont.edu615 460 6628 July 15 to October 15 2022Wayland University1900 West 7th St Plainville, TX 79072Candace Keller kellerc@wbu.edu (806) 291-1083 March 25, 2021 –May 9, 2021John Brown UniversityWindgate Gallery2000 W University St Siloam Springs AR 72761Bobby C. Martin, Professor of Visual Art/Gallery Dir. 918-207-5970bmartin@jbu.edu February 15 to March 12, 2021University of Mary Hardin-BaylorCollege of Visual and Performing Arts900 College StreetBelton, TX 76513Contact: Hershall Seals, hseals@umhb.edu August 1 to December 31, 2020Gordon Conwell Seminary 14542 Chaoate Circle, Charlotte, NC 28273Contact: Michelle Littlejohn, dlittlejohn@gordonconwell.com704 527 9909 March 16 – April 14, 2020First Presbyterian Church300 West Wayne Street Fort Wayne IN 46802 260-426-7421 Fax. 260-422-5111Contact: Sarah Savage savage2426@gmail.com260-482-5112 January 6 to March 6, 2020Gordon College, 255Grapevine Rd, Wenham, MAContact: Bruce Herman Bruce.Herman@gordon.edu(978) 867-4414 October 5 to December 20, 2019Messiah College, Aughinbaugh GalleryOne College AvenueMechanicsburg, PA 17055Contact: Brenton Good, bgood@messiah.edu(717) 571-4039 August 20 to September, 25 2019University of Rio Grande218 N. College AveRio Grande OH 45674(740) 245-7372 OfficeContact: Benjy Davies, bdavies@rio.edu March 10 to May 10, 2019Wilshire Baptist Church4316 Abrams Rd,Dallas, TX 75214Contact: Mark Wingfield, Associate Pastor (214) 452-3128mwingfield@wilshirebc.org January 7 to February 23, 2019Center Art Gallery | Calvin College1795 Knollcrest Circle | Grand Rapids, MI 49456Contact: Brent WilliamsBsw6@calvin.edue | 616-526-6947GALLERY
ARTWORK LISTING
Heads
5. Koph (Head of a Man)
Max Kaus (1891 – 1977) Germany
Woodblock
1920
6. Maske
Max Pechstein (1881 – 1955) Germany
Woodcut
1918
7. Koph (Head of Christ)
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884 – 1976) Germany
Woodcut
1918
8. Judas
Max Pechstein (1881 – 1955) Germany
Woodcut
1919
9. The Little Prophetess
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884 – 1976) Germany
Woodcut
1919
10. Christus
Otto Dix (1891 – 1969) Germany
Lithograph
1957
11. How Josua Grübler found his way
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 – 1938) Germany
Woodcut from Neben der Heerstrasse
1923
12. Nachbarsleute (Neighbors)
Emil Nolde (1867 – 1956) Denmark-Germany
Woodcut
1925
Death
13. Totentanz (Dance of Death)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Lithograph
1916
14. Mors Imperator (Emperor Death)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Woodblock print 30/100, signed
1919
15. Tod un Frau um das Kind ringend (Death and Woman Struggling over Child)
Kathë Kollwitz (1867 – 1945) Germany
Etching, soft ground etching, and aquatint, with drypoint, on cream wove paper
1911
16. Inspiration
Kathë Kollwitz (1867 – 1945) Germany
Etching, soft ground etching, and aquatint, with drypoint, on cream wove paper
1907
17. Aus dem Camposanto/From the Holy Field
Richard Seewald (1889 – 1976) Germany
Woodcut
1922
Life of Christ
18. Visitation (Mary and Elizabeth)
Kathë Kollwitz (1867 – 1945) Germany
Woodcut
1928
19. Der Säugling (Infant)
Max Pechstein (1881 – 1955) Germany
Woodcut
1918
20. Die Heilligen drei Könige/The Three Kings
Christian Rohlfs (1849 - 1938) Germany
Woodcut
1910
21. Rast auf der Flucht nach Ägypten (Rest on Flight to Egypt),
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980 Austria
Lithograph from the Series Die Passion
1916
22. Taufe Christi (Baptism of Christ)
Karl Caspar (1870 – 1956) Germany
Lithograph
1917
23. Petri Fischzug (Great Catch of Fishes)
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884 – 1976) Germany
Original Woodcut
1918
24. Christus unter den Frauen (Christ among the Women)
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884 – 1976) Germany
Woodcut, signed and numbered
1919
25. Rückkehr des verlorenen Sohnes (Return of the Prodigal Son)
Christian Rohlfs (1849 - 1938) Germany
Woodcut
1916
26. Der Hirte (The Shepherd)
Richard Seewald (1889 – 1976) Germany
Woodcut
1919
27. Man by a Well
Max Kaus (1891 – 1977) Germany
Lithograph
1918
Passion
28. Das Abendmahl (The Last Supper)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980) Austria
Lithograph from the Series Die Passion
191629. Christus am Ölberg (Jesus on the Mount of Olives)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980) Austria
Lithograph from the Series Die Passion
1916
30. Gethsemane
Otto Dix (1891 – 1969) Austria
Lithograph from Matthäus Evangelium
1960
31. Der Judakuss (The Kiss of Judas)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980 Austria
Lithograh from the Series Die Passion
1916
32. Christus und Pilatus (Christ Before Pilate)
Max Beckmann (1894 – 1950) Germany
Lithograph from Day and Dream
1946
33. Christ Carrying the Cross
Otto Dix (1891-1969) Germany
Lithograph
1960
34. Christus am Kreuz (Christ on the Cross)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980) Austria
Lithograph
1916
35. Kreuztraung (Crucifixion)
Lovis Corinth (1858 – 1925) Germany
Woodcut
1919
36. Kreuzingung (Crucifixion)
Lovis Corinth (1858 – 1925) Germany
Drypoint
1921/22
37. Crucifixion
Franz Masereel (1889 – 1972) Belgium
Woodcut
1924
38. Beweinung Christi/Pietà (Winching Christ/Pietà)
Lovis Corinth (1858 – 1925) Germany
Etching and drypoint
1920
39. Auferstehung (The Resurrection)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980 Austria
Lithograph from Die Passion, signed
1916
Old Testament
40. Die Felsen (The Rocks)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Woodcut from Transformations of God
1920
41. Die Vertreibung aus dem Paradies (Expulsion from Paradise)
Lovis Corinth (1858 – 1925) Germany
Lithograph
1920/21
42. Austreibung aus dem Paradies (Expulsion from Paradise)
Christian Rohlfs (1849 - 1938) Germany
Woodcut with hand-colored paint applied
1919
43. Kain (Cain)
Lovis Corinth (1858 – 1925) Germany
1915
Lithograph
44. Wanderer
Edvard Munch (1863 – 1944) Norway
Woodcut
1957
45. Sacrificial Lamb
Otto Dix (1891 – 1969) Germany
Lithograph
1960
46. Abraham and Isaak
Otto Dix (1891 – 1969) Germany
Lithograph
1960
47. Jacob ringt mit dem Engel (Jacob with the Angel)
Max Beckmann (1894 – 1950) Germany
Etching
1920
48. Beratung (Advice)
Christian Rohlfs (1849 - 1938) Germany
Woodcut
1913
49. Jeremias (Jeremiah)
Alfred Kubin (1877 – 1959) Austria
Lithograph
1921
50. Elias in der Wüste (Elijah in the Desert)
Christian Rohlfs (1849 - 1938) Germany
Woodcut
1912
51. Absaloms Tod (Absalom’s Death)
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980) Austria
Lithograph, hand signed and numbered
1966-9
Apocalypse
52. Kölner Engel (Cologne Angel)
Gerhard Marcks (1889 – 1981) Germany
Woodcut
1946
53. Jüngstes Gericht (Last Judgement)
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) Russia/Germany
Woodcut
191154. Freude, schöner Götterfunken (Ode to Joy)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Woodcut
1927
55. Erst Sieg, dann Frieden (First Victory, then Peace)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Lithograph
1914
56. Johannes auf Patmos (St. John on Patmos)
Karl Caspar (1879 - 1956) Germany
Lithograph, pulished in first book of Genesis
1919
Books
57. Neben der Heerstrasse
Max Kaus (1891 – 1977) Germany
Book with 23 woodcuts by Kaus
1923
58. Oscar Kokoschka
Oskar Kokoschka (1886 – 1980)
(Book with 2 lithographs)
Girl with Flute
Nude
59. Der ewige Jude (The Eternal Jew)
Franz Masereel (1889 – 1972) Belgium
Book with original woodcuts
1923
60. Matthäus Evangelium Book
Otto Dix (1891 – 1969) Germany
1960
Book with 33 lithographs
61. Die Wandlungen Gotts (Transformations of God)
Ernst Barlach (1870-1938) Germany
Seven Woodcuts
1922
