Lecture by Vincenza Benedettino followed by a talk with Bernhard Fulda

The large-format painting „The Evil Elect“ by Max Ernst is one of the first works which were acquired for the collection by Werner Haftmann. He was the first director of the Neue Nationalgalerie, which opened in 1968. In the post-war period, Haftmann enlarged the collection through popular purchases and made spectacular exhibition projects possible. Like many others in cultural professions or government service during the postwar period, Haftmann denied and concealed essential aspects of his part in Hitler’s terror regime, which is why his lifework is currently undergoing a critical review. Art historian Vincenza Benedettino will speak about Werner Haftmann's work at the Neue Nationalgalerie. Together with historian Bernhard Fulda, University of Cambridge, she will discuss the possible connection between Werner Haftmann's Nazi past and his exhibition and acquisition policies.

The events will take place as part of a lecture series from September 2022 to June 2023, on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. Unless otherwise noted, the events will be held in German.
Afterwards, the exhibition can be visited until 10 pm.

Participation in the lecture and admission to the exhibition are free of charge. 
Online booking required.

The event series is made possible by the Ferdinand-Möller-Stiftung, Berlin.