German Expressionist Paintings and Education

This book has two aims. The first aim is a modest attempt to help to overcome the neglect to which German expressionist paintings have been condemned by historians and art critics. The second aim is more difficult from an educational perspective. The book points out that a moving beauty and worthy truths call out from many German expressionist paintings. At times, this beauty and these truths may be comprehended straightforwardly. To complement the direct encounter with these paintings, the book suggests learning from concepts, ideas, and insights presented by existentialist philosophers. The book shows that these concepts, ideas, and insights can assist in harkening to the call of beauty and truth that calls out from the paintings of the six German expressionist painters which are discussed here: Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Otto Mueller, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Erich Heckel. Thus, they can assist the educator in showing the grandeur of the works of the six painters. The book points to the educational value of the personal and existential encounter with the beauty and truths that call out from the paintings of these artists.

Haim Gordon is professor emeritus at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. He has published, at times in collaboration with colleagues, 26 books and more than 150 papers in professional journals and books on philosophical, educational and political topics. He resides with his wife in Eilat, Israel.