The First Generation. Female Sculptors of Berlin Modernism

Sophie Wolff, Käthe Kollwitz, Milly Steger, Marg Moll, Tina Haim-Wentscher, Renée Sintenis, Christa Winsloe, Emy Roeder, Jenny Mucchi-Wiegmann and Louise Stomps formed the first generation of freelance female sculptors in Germany who were able to make a living from their art and also gained recognition from art critics and the public.

The ten female artists represented in the exhibition were based in Berlin and were, in some cases, closely intertwined with the independent art scene of the Weimar Republic. Their high creative potential is evident in the approximately 60 works on display. From the very beginning, they sought to forge their own artistic paths that could not be reduced to so-called ‘feminine’ themes. Nevertheless, particularly within the physically demanding medium of sculpture, the artists repeatedly had to contend with prejudice and traditional role models. Furthermore, due to the poor educational opportunities for women – who still had no access to art academies – they had to forge their own paths and life trajectories. The exhibition at the Georg Kolbe Museum offers an opportunity to explore and rediscover their works and biographies.