Georg Kolbe’s estate, which is unique in its complexity and the degree to which it has been preserved, documents the continuities and ruptures of an artist’s life under four political systems. The outstanding achievement to date is an in-depth examination of Kolbe’s artistic work under National Socialism. In order to do justice to this important research task, the museum invited a panel of experts in Autumn 2021 to examine Kolbe’s self-marketing strategies, communication with and activities on the art market, handling of public and private commissions, participation in exhibitions and much more on the basis of unrestricted access to the entire documentary estate. The part of the estate from Canada is enriched by partial bequests from Kolbe’s assistant Margrit Schwartzkopff, his son-in-law Kurt von Keudell and his granddaughter Maria von Tiesenhausen, thus allowing a critical examination of the history and narrative of the artist’s reception in the second half of the 20th century.

In addition to promoting new insights into Georg Kolbe, the history of modern sculpture is reflected upon in a historically critical manner. The Kolbe microcosm can help to make more precise statements about working conditions, the art market and the relationship between art and politics in the macrocosm of modern sculpture. Although important research has been carried out on sculpture under National Socialism in recent decades, it is both possible and necessary to update this research. From 1 to 3 September 2022, the results of this research were presented at the conference ‘Georg Kolbe and National Socialism. Breaks and Continuities in Life, Work and Reception’. The conference papers were published in German and English by Gebr. Mann Verlag in November 2023.

Project leaders: Dr Julia Wallner and Dr Elisa Tamaschke

Members of the research group:
Wolfgang Brauneis M.A., curator of the exhibition „Die Liste der ‚Gottbegnadeten‘. Artists of National Socialism in the Federal Republic of Germany“, DHM
Prof. Dr Magdalena Bushart, TU Berlin
Dr Yvette Deseyve, Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin
Ambra Frank M.A., research assistant for the exhibition at the DHM, doctoral candidate at the LMU Munich
Prof. Dr Christian Fuhrmeister, ZI Munich
Dr Josephine Gabler, Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin
Jan Giebel M.A., Gustav Lübcke Museum Hamm
Dr Arie Hartog, Gerhard-Marcks-Haus Bremen
Dr Christina Irrgang, freelance art and media scholar, author and musician
Prof Dr Olaf Peters, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Dr Wolfgang Schöddert, Berlinische Galerie
Dr Dorothea Schöne, Kunsthaus Dahlem
Dr des. Paula Schwerdtfeger, art historian
Prof. Dr Aya Soika, Bard College Berlin
Dr Maike Steinkamp, New National Gallery Berlin
Dr Anja Tiedemann, independent art historian
Dr Gesa Vietzen, Office of the Advisory Commission in connection with the restitution of Nazi-confiscated cultural property, especially Jewish property