Juxtaposing the two unequal siblings of the German-speaking world, imperial Vienna and cosmopolitan Berlin, Wien Berlin explores the concurrent development of modernist art in the two cities during the early 20th century. Ranging from vivid still lifes to twisted portraits, the Berlinische Galerie’s new exhibition offers an in-depth look at this volatile chapter of Austro- German history. Behind the superficially vibrant scenes, however, lies a dark heart, perhaps best captured by Lotte Laserstein’s “Evening Over Potsdam”, a painting of extraordinary insight worth the admission price on its own.
Originally published in issue #121, December 2013.