Erotic Art in Modern Germany: Visual Cultures of Sex, 1871-1945

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

In what ways can erotica chart the story of a nation in transition What can it reveal about the discontinuitiesand uncomfortable parallelsbetween the periods of political and economic turmoil that characterize modern German history

The rapid modernization of the German Empire in 1871 led to large-scale transformations in the cultural, social, and political spheres. Exploring a rich diversity of erotic visual artfrom paintings and photographs, to postcard and graphic foliosthis volume reveals the impact of these changes on the erotic interests of the nation.

Exploring various forms of artistic production, reception, and circulation, Erotic Art in Modern Germany argues for the cultural value of erotica in modern Germany. It presents work by both highly regarded and lesser-known artists and explores themes such as legal cultures and the impact of censorship, sexuality and sexual reform, and changing political frameworks, from imperialism to fascism. 10 chapters explore diverse topics, from philological and ethnographic approaches to erotic art, to scientific developments, gender and sexuality. With its holistic, cross-disciplinary approachdrawing from the fields of anthropology, film theory, Marxism, feminism, and trans- and queer theoriesthe book complicates simplistic understandings of modern erotica and powerfully underlines its enduring significance as a site of dissent and experimentation.

Author Bio

Camilla Smith is Associate Professor in Art History in the Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies at the University of Birmingham, UK. She is the author of Jeanne Mammen (Bloomsbury, 2023) and has published widely on erotic visual culture in Oxford Art Journal, Art History, and The Art Bulletin.

Ty Vanover is an instructor in the department of Art & Art History at Dickinson College. His work has appeared in Oxford Art Journal, Arts, and Ikonotheka.