FOTO: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1948

Across Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, and Poland, photography fired the imagination of hundreds of progressive artists, provided a creative outlet for thousands of devoted amateurs, and became a symbol of modernity for millions through its use in print and advertising. The face of central Europe had changed profoundly in the aftermath of World War I: empires had collapsed and fledgling nation states had taken their place (see maps). In a region where the dominant cultural model encouraged art to be instructive and critically engaged with contemporary issues, photography flourished and helped negotiate the oftentimes uncertain prospects of this sudden transition to modernity.

Widespread attraction to photography in central Europe inspired the rise of the illustrated press, innovative techniques such as photomontage, and the proliferation of commercial studios and other camera-friendly institutions. The region also witnessed the spread of surrealist and documentary photography, as well as the emergence of politically engaged photography that furthered agendas across the ideological spectrum. To recover these images is to be reminded how well connected the region once was and how singular and forceful a contribution was made there, not only to the history of photography, but also to modern consciousness.

Curated by Matthew Witkovsky, Associate Curator of Photography, National Gallery of Art.

This exhibition is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Support provided in part by The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, the Austrian Cultural Forum New York, and Czech Center New York.

The exhibition catalogue is published by the National Gallery of Art with the assistance of The Getty Foundation.

Central Europe Before World War I (1890)

Central Europe After World War I

click to see interactive map