sundays at 11
Stella Rollig in conversation with Dr. Birgit Schwarz, author ("Geniewahn: Hitler und die Kunst")
Sun., 6 December 2009, 11 am-1 pm
In her new book Geniewahn. Hitler und die Kunst, the art historian Birgit Schwarz develops a fascinating thesis: Adolf Hitler's political madness, his hypertrophic self-assessment, his phantasm of omnipotence are closely linked with his self-understanding as an artist. The failed career as an artist had no adverse effect on this self-image, but on the contrary. Enthralled by the belief in genius from the late 19th century, Hitler also acted as a politician with an "over-heated artist-ego".
Birgit Schwarz's arguments are based on her research findings - Hitler was obsessed by art to the end. The thesis is also a painful one. Art and its misuse, Hitler's love of art led straight into the heart of evil.
BIRGIT SCHWARZ
1984 PhD in Art History from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz; 1985/1986 internship at the Staatlichen Kunsthalle Karlsruhe; 1987-1989 residence in Rome; from 1990 work as freelance art historian and curator in Freiburg, Trier and Vienna: numerous publications on painting and glass painting in the 20th century, on the "Führer Museum Linz", and on Hitler's self-image as artist, patron and art collector.
An extended Viennese breakfast is served before the Sunday discussions. Breakfast starts at 10 am, the discussion at 11 am.
Please register for breakfast by 4 December 2009 by calling +43 (0) 732 7070 3600
Admission:
adults (incl. museum entrance, lecture and breakfast) EUR 12,-
lecture only EUR 4,-
