The exhibition “Emil Nolde. A German legend. “The Artist in National Socialism” shows Emil Nolde’s artistic work for the first time in the historical context of his biography and ideological stance. His sympathies for the Nazi movement have long been known in expert circles, but have so far played little role in the public presentation of his works. The exhibition is therefore intended to enable both an artistic and historical examination of Nolde's work and life, which addresses the dynamic character of the relationship between artist, work and reception.
Nolde himself even ordered the publication of his written works, including his autobiographies and letters, in his will. Apparently he was convinced that a better understanding of the artist's inner world would also lead to a deeper understanding of the works being viewed. In fact, the question of artist and work in public cannot be separated from the topic of Nolde and National Socialism - during the Nazi dictatorship, but also in the years after 1945.