Exhibition in Cottbus Examines Construction of Masculinity in East Germany

The Brandenburg Museum of Modern Art in Cottbus is presenting 'Gemachte Männer,' an exhibition analyzing the development of masculine identity in the German Democratic Republic. Curated by Christopher Straub, the show features approximately 90 works by artists from the GDR and its historical context, tracing the ideological formation of manhood from the Weimar Republic through the 1980s. It explores how state socialism promoted images of physical toughness, discipline, and collective duty, later challenged by generational shifts and Western influences. The presentation concludes with post-reunification works addressing contemporary masculine ideals. This display provides historical perspective on the political shaping of gender through visual culture.