What was the new objectivity movement?

The New Objectivity, known in German as Neue Sachlichkeit, was a significant art movement that emerged in Germany during the 1920s. It represented a distinct shift from the prevailing artistic trends of the time, particularly Expressionism.

Origins and Core Philosophy

The New Objectivity came about as a direct challenge and counter-movement to Expressionism. Whereas Expressionism focused on conveying intense subjective emotions and inner experiences through distorted reality, abstract forms, and vibrant colors, the New Objectivity proposed a starkly different approach.

As its name implies, the movement championed a return to an unsentimental view of reality and a strong emphasis on the objective world. Artists sought to portray subjects with a detached, clinical precision, moving away from the more abstract, romantic, or idealistic tendencies that characterized much of the art produced before and during World War I. This objective stance allowed for a critical, often stark, examination of the social and political landscape of the Weimar Republic in post-World War I Germany.

Key Characteristics of New Objectivity

The movement was characterized by several defining features:

• Realism and Precision: Works often featured sharp, clear lines and meticulous detail, depicting scenes and figures with a nearly photographic exactness.
• Unsentimental Portrayal: Artists deliberately suppressed emotional expression, opting for a cool, detached observation of their subjects, even when dealing with grim or unsettling themes.
• Social Commentary: Many New Objectivity artists used their objective style to comment on the harsh realities of contemporary German society, including economic hardship, social stratification, political corruption, and the lingering trauma of war. This commentary, however, was presented in a dispassionate, almost journalistic manner, rather than with overt emotional protest.
• Anti-Romanticism and Anti-Idealism: The movement actively rejected the romanticized or idealized representations of the world, embracing a sober and often cynical perspective on modern life.
• Focus on the Objective World: The emphasis was firmly on tangible objects, people, and scenes as they appeared, without spiritual or symbolic overlays.

Impact and Legacy

The influence of the New Objectivity extended beyond painting, impacting various other art forms, including:

• Photography: Pioneering photographers like August Sander adopted an objective, typological approach to portraiture, meticulously documenting different social classes and professions in Germany.
• Architecture: The functionalist and minimalist principles of movements like the Bauhaus shared an aesthetic affinity with New Objectivity's clean lines and emphasis on practicality.
• Literature: Writers associated with the movement also adopted a direct, unadorned prose style, often focusing on social critique and factual reportage.

The New Objectivity served as a powerful artistic response to a tumultuous era, documenting and reflecting the anxieties and realities of the Weimar Republic. Its legacy lies in its bold rejection of subjective expression in favor of a clear-eyed, unsentimental, and often critical depiction of the modern world.

New Objectivity vs. Expressionism

To better understand the distinctiveness of the New Objectivity, here's a brief comparison with its predecessor, Expressionism: