Exhibition 'Emil Nolde | Colour is Life' in Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
Emil Nolde (1867-1956) was one of the greatest colourists of the twentieth century. He felt strongly about what he painted, identifying with his subjects in every brushstroke he made, heightening his colours and simplifying his shapes, so that we, the viewers, can also experience his emotional response to the world about him. This is what makes Nolde one of Germany’s greatest expressionist artists.
Please note this exhibition contains some material that visitors may find upsetting.
Emil Nolde was a German Expressionist painter and is acknowledged as one of the most influential German artists of the twentieth century. He was also a supporter of the Nazi party. We have included the painting ‘Martyrdom 1921’ in room 3 in order to show how Nolde expressed ideas that drew on long-standing anti-Semitic prejudices that would ultimately lead to the horrors of the Holocaust, which are still sadly evident today. We stress that we do not condone or excuse the artist’s political beliefs and anti-Semitic views in any way.
The National Galleries of Scotland are committed to promoting the values of equality and respect and to addressing the challenging issues that the history of twentieth-century art opens up for contemporary audiences.
