German Publications: Nudes / Akt & Die Schonheit 1900 ~ 1930s

Concepts of physical health and beauty associated with Germany and the Weimar years between the two world wars started taking shape in the early 19th century. Naturism, nudism, body culture, vegetarianism, gymnastics, modern dance and sexual freedom were a substantial part of creative and artistic growth in Germany. Sadly these elements helped fuel the eventual downfall of the Weimar Republic via suppression and censorship of free expression which began with the rise to power of the national socialists, circa 1932. 

Ironically these "liberal" attitudes about the body were eventually embraced by the Third Reich as part of their Arian, "ubermensch" propaganda. "Korperkultur", and to a certain degree, nudity, became part of the "official" art commissioned for the nazis and displayed in the national art galley in Munich, Haus der Deutschen Kunst."Die Schonheit", The Body Beautiful.

Posted here are books and periodicals devoted to "nudes and beautiful bodies" which give a glimpse of what was created circa 1900 to the mid-1930s.

Weibliche Schonheit circa 1905 featuring a marvelous allegorical cover illustration. Idyllic and classical, academic style nudes.

Ideale Nacktheit,1920s. Photographic annuals published by Die Schonheit magazine, featuring photos edited from previously published issues.

An English language version of volume four.

Two volumes by Dr.Ernst Schertel, a pseudo-scientist, published by his Parthenon Verlag, 1920s. Schertel is most well known for his Flagellantismus series of periodicals.

Ausdruckgymnastik, circa 1923. Exceptional book on modern dance and gymnastics with photographs by Gerhard Riebecke. Prior to Martin Munkasci there were Riebecke's photographs of bodies in motion.

Books on physical culture, exercise, gymnastics, korperkultur.

One of the publications with fold-out photographs in a series showing sequential movements/exercises from the prolific Hans Suren, 1920s.

"Female Beauty" published circa 1938, one of the first books published featuring color photographs of the nude.

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NUDISM Naturism: German Postcards 1900 ~ 1930s

The history of the "ubermensch" dates to the beginning of the 19th century in rural Germany, pre-Nietzche, focusing on the notions of natural living. A rush of innovations and the the rethinking of "the superman" concept in German society at the beginning of the 20th century, also awoke interest in "naturism" among advocates, supporting it (literally) at the grass roots level. These were not politicians but what might be referred to today as "back to nature", nudist hippie types.

Lacking the academic chops to explain in a short paragraph, the arc of 150 years from 1800 to the rekindling at the turn-of-the-twentieth century, the naturist movement in Germany had its champions. Not just the nudists and vegetarian "back to the land" practitioners, but also writers, publishers, visual artists, athletes, performers and modern dancers as well. 

Included here are samples from a large collection of postcards displaying images of the "uberfrau", nubile German women show in idyllic natural settings or posed in studio creations 

Click any image to enlarge

Artwork by Fidus

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