In 1913—the same year Emil Nolde painted Woman of Mixed Race—legislation was passed in Germany that made “German blood” the sole criterion for citizenship. This made it legal to exclude Germans of African descent, including the unnamed stage performer in Nolde’s painting. Focusing on the representation of race and gender in Nolde’s work, this talk by curatorial fellow Peter Murphy will draw connections between Germany’s colonial project and avant-garde art.

This talk is part of Gray Area, a new series that features members of our staff exploring artworks that capture the complexities of humanity, political landscapes, ethics, ideologies, power dynamics, and critical thinking in our times. Through this series, we hope to encourage people to observe and consider their own individual gray areas, and to think about how their unique experiences guide the choices they make.

Led by:
Peter Murphy, Stefan Engelhorn Curatorial Fellow in the Busch-Reisinger Museum, Division of Modern and Contemporary Art

Please check in with museum staff at the Visitor Services desk in the Calderwood Courtyard to request to join the gallery talk. Space is limited, and talks are available on a first-come, first-served basis; no registration is required.