Gothic Modern

Gothic Modern offers an insightful examination of the pivotal rediscovery of medieval Gothic art for influential artists like Edvard Munch and Käthe Kollwitz, as well as their contemporaries. It delves into these artists' fascination with the Gothic style prevalent in Northern Europe and the German regions. Through paintings, prints, and other creative forms, they envisioned a new 'Gothic modernity', which revealed an alternative energy within modern art that transcended national narratives. This work highlights how medieval Gothic art significantly impacted artists like Munch and Kollwitz between the 1870s and 1920s, prompting them to reimagine concepts of artistic identity, society, spirituality, and sexuality. By doing so, they brought the distant Gothic era close to their own time, making it remarkably relevant to the creation of modern art. Whether dark or luminous, mystical or eerie, these 'Gothic modernity' spaces inspired a generation of artists with bold visions for crafting new worlds. The book also explores the contributions of many renowned artists, including Albrecht Altdorfer, Hans Baldung Grien, Ernst Barlach, and others, who played a part in this artistic evolution.