Kirchner and Nolde: Expressionism and Colonialism at Stedelijk Museum

The exhibition 'Kirchner en Nolde: Expressionisme. Kolonialisme' at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam reexamines the work of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938) and Emil Nolde (1867–1956) through a postcolonial lens, focusing on their engagement with non-Western cultures during the German Empire (1908–1918). The show, curated by Beatrice von Bormann and Dorthe Aegesen, is the result of four years of research and collaboration between institutions: it opened at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, is currently at the Stedelijk Museum, and will travel to the Brücke-Museum in Berlin from December 18. The exhibition highlights the role of ethnographic museums in both inspiring the artists and reinforcing imperial agendas. Nolde collected around 400 objects from around the world, many acquired during a 1913–1914 expedition to Papua New Guinea, then a German colony, where he produced watercolors and sketches depicting local life. Kirchner never traveled to the colonies but drew inspiration from exoticized circus, cabaret, and dance performances in Germany. The exhibition juxtaposes Expressionist works with artifacts, documents, and photographs from colonized regions, aiming to give equal dignity to all cultures and critically examine the narratives of Western art history.