Art and Culture 1925-1945 under Dictatorships

Vocabulary flashcards covering key artists, artworks, exhibitions, political events, and architectural projects discussed in the lecture on art and culture from 1925 to 1945.

Art Deco (1925-1940s)

Decorative art and architecture style characterized by sleek geometry, rich materials, and lavish ornament; showcased at the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs.

1925 Paris International Exhibition of Applied Arts

World fair that introduced Art Deco to an international audience; featured pavilions by Le Corbusier, Melnikov, and others.

Le Corbusier, “L’Esprit Nouveau” Pavilion

Modernist pavilion at the 1925 Paris expo, promoting functionalism, mass-production, and the architect’s “Five Points of Architecture.”

Konstantin Melnikov, USSR Pavilion (1925)

Avant-garde wooden pavilion combining Constructivist forms with Russian folk motifs at the Paris exhibition.

Pierre Patout, Pavillon de Collectionneur

Luxurious Art Deco pavilion at the 1925 Paris fair designed to display a private art collection.

Tamara de Lempicka

Polish-born Art Deco painter famed for sleek portraits like “Self-Portrait” (1925) and “Young Lady with Gloves” (1930).

Eugène-Robert Pougheon

French painter blending classical themes with Art Deco style, e.g., “Amazones” (1929) and “Le Serpent” (1930).

Raymond Hood, Rockefeller Center (1930-39)

Major Art Deco complex in New York noted for integrated sculpture, murals, and urban planning.

Socialist Realism (USSR, 1932)

Official Soviet artistic doctrine—art must be realistic, optimistic, and serve socialist ideology; formalized by the 1932 resolution on artistic organizations.

Boris Iofan, Palace of the Soviets project

Winning eclectic design (1931-33) for a colossal Moscow congress hall topped by a Lenin statue; never built.

International Competition for the Palace of the Soviets (1931-32)

Global architectural contest attracting entries by Le Corbusier, Gropius, Vesnin brothers, and others.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe dissolves the Bauhaus (1933)

Modernist school closed under Nazi pressure, ending its revolutionary design program in Germany.

New Bauhaus, Chicago (1937)

School founded by László Moholy-Nagy at IIT, continuing Bauhaus ideas in the United States.

“Degenerate Art” Exhibition (Munich, 1937)

Nazi show mocking modern art; contrasted with the Great German Art Exhibition held simultaneously.

World Fair, Paris 1937

Exposition featuring confrontational Soviet and Nazi pavilions; debut of Picasso’s “Guernica.”

International Exhibition Rome E 42

Planned 1942 world’s fair; produced EUR district buildings like the Palace of Italian Civilization but never opened due to WWII.

José Ortega y Gasset, “Revolt of the Masses” (1930)

Philosophical essay analyzing the rise of mass society and its impact on culture and politics.

Spanish Civil War (1936-39)

Conflict between Republican and Nationalist forces; inspired works such as Picasso’s “Guernica.”

Pact of Steel (1939)

Military alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany signed on 22 May 1939.

Second World War (1939-45)

Global conflict that reshaped art, politics, and society; backdrop to many works in the lecture.

Yurij Pimenov, “New Moscow” (1937)

Optimistic Socialist-Realist painting depicting modern life along Moscow’s streets.

Aleksandr Gerasimov, “Stalin and Voroshilov in the Kremlin” (1938)

Iconic Socialist-Realist portrait emphasizing Soviet leadership cult.

Enrico Del Debbio, Foro Mussolini (1927-36)

Sports complex in Rome reflecting Fascist monumental classicism.

University “La Sapienza” Complex (1932-35)

Rome campus by Marcello Piacentini; includes Mario Sironi’s fresco “Italy between Arts and Sciences.”

Palace of Italian Civilization (EUR, 1937-53)

Cube-shaped travertine building nicknamed “Square Colosseum,” symbol of Fascist architecture.

Albert Speer, New Reich Chancellery (1939)

Grandiose Berlin government building embodying Nazi power; destroyed after WWII.

Speer’s “Axe” and People’s Hall project (1938)

Vision for a north-south axis in Berlin culminating in a gigantic domed Volkshalle.

Arno Breker

Official Nazi sculptor known for idealized athletic nudes such as “Decathlon Athlete” (1936).

Leni Riefenstahl, “Triumph of the Will” (1935)

Propagandistic film documenting the 1934 Nuremberg Rally; milestone in cinematic technique.

Riefenstahl, “Olympia” (1937)

Two-part film on the 1936 Berlin Olympics celebrating physical perfection and Nazi imagery.

Gerardo Dottori, “Mussolini Anno XI” (1933)

Futurist aerial painting glorifying the Fascist leader.

Adolfo Wildt, Portrait of Mussolini (1924)

Marble bust presenting the dictator as a Roman-style hero.

Carlo Carrà, “Football Match” (1934)

Work blending Metaphysical style with Fascist interest in sport and mass events.

Lucio Fontana, “Harpooner” (1933-34)

Early figurative sculpture by the future founder of Spatialism.

Arturo Martini, “Victory” (1932)

Terracotta sculpture merging classical symbolism with modern stylization.

Renato Guttuso, “Crucifixion” (1942)

Expressionist anti-Fascist painting awarded at the Premio Bergamo; condemned by the Church.

3rd Cremona Prize (1941)

Fascist-sponsored art competition emphasizing nationalist themes; included Cesare Maggi’s “Italica gens.”

Picasso, “Guernica” (1937)

Monumental canvas protesting the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.

Picasso, “Dream and Lie of Franco” (1937)

Series of aquatints satirizing Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.

Matisse, “The Fall of Icarus” (1943)

Paper-cut composition symbolizing human aspiration and failure during wartime.

“Great German Art” Exhibition (1937)

Inaugural show at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst promoting approved Nazi art.

Haus der Deutschen Kunst, Munich

Nazi state museum designed to display officially sanctioned art starting in 1937.

Wolfsoniana Museum, Genoa

Italian institution preserving Deco-to-Modern artworks, including Thayaht’s “The Great Helmsman” (1939).

Charlie Chaplin, “The Great Dictator” (1940)

Satirical film lampooning Hitler and totalitarianism; significant cultural critique before U.S. entry into WWII.

Thayaht, “The Great Helmsman” (1939)

Italian Futurist portrait glorifying Mussolini as leader.

Enrico Prampolini, “Corporations” mosaics (1942)

Murals at EUR celebrating Fascist corporatism through stylized figures.

Massimo Campigli, “The Wedding” (1934)

Stylized fresco-like painting reflecting archaic influences and Fascist interest in family.

Giuseppe Capogrossi, “The Poet of the Tiber” (1933)

Pre-abstract work depicting a Roman scene with lyrical realism.

Luciano Ricchetti, “In Tune” (1939)

Painting destroyed during war; example from the 3rd Cremona Prize emphasizing nationalist harmony.

Identify the architect and date of this pavilion: “L’Esprit Nouveau” Pavilion

Le Corbusier, 1925

Identify the architect and date of this pavilion: USSR Pavilion

Konstantin Melnikov, 1925

Identify the architect and date of this pavilion: Pavillon de Collectionneur

Pierre Patout, 1925

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Self-Portrait”

Tamara de Lempicka, 1925

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Young Lady with Gloves”

Tamara de Lempicka, 1930

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Amazones”

Eugène-Robert Pougheon, 1929

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Le Serpent”

Eugène-Robert Pougheon, 1930

Identify the architect and date of this complex: Rockefeller Center

Raymond Hood, 1930-39

Identify the architect and date of this project: Palace of the Soviets

Boris Iofan, 1931-33

Identify the author and publication date of this essay: “Revolt of the Masses”

José Ortega y Gasset, 1930

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “New Moscow”

Yurij Pimenov, 1937

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Stalin and Voroshilov in the Kremlin”

Aleksandr Gerasimov, 1938

Identify the architect and date of this complex: Foro Mussolini

Enrico Del Debbio, 1927-36

Identify the architect and date of this campus complex: University “La Sapienza” Complex

Marcello Piacentini, 1932-35

Identify the architect and date of this building: New Reich Chancellery

Albert Speer, 1939

Identify the architect and date of this urban plan: Speer’s “Axe” and People’s Hall project

Albert Speer, 1938

Identify the artist and date of this sculpture: “Decathlon Athlete”

Arno Breker, 1936

Identify the director and release date of this film: “Triumph of the Will”

Leni Riefenstahl, 1935

Identify the director and release date of this film: “Olympia”

Leni Riefenstahl, 1937

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Mussolini Anno XI”

Gerardo Dottori, 1933

Identify the artist and date of this sculpture: Portrait of Mussolini

Adolfo Wildt, 1924

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Football Match”

Carlo Carrà, 1934

Identify the artist and date of this sculpture: “Harpooner”

Lucio Fontana, 1933-34

Identify the artist and date of this sculpture: “Victory”

Arturo Martini, 1932

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Crucifixion”

Renato Guttuso, 1942

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “Guernica”

Picasso, 1937

Identify the artist and date of this series of aquatints: “Dream and Lie of Franco”

Picasso, 1937

Identify the artist and date of this composition: “The Fall of Icarus”

Matisse, 1943

Identify the director and release date of this film: “The Great Dictator”

Charlie Chaplin, 1940

Identify the artist and date of this portrait: “The Great Helmsman”

Thayaht, 1939

Identify the artist and date of these mosaics: “Corporations” mosaics

Enrico Prampolini, 1942

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “The Wedding”

Massimo Campigli, 1934

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “The Poet of the Tiber”

Giuseppe Capogrossi, 1933

Identify the artist and date of this painting: “In Tune”

Luciano Ricchetti, 1939