How did Hamburg’s artists respond to the dramatic upheavals after the Second World War? The exhibition Escaping the Inferno – Art after 1945 in Hamburg shows how art reacted to destruction, reconstruction, and political tensions between 1943 and 1961.
The works on view include pieces from the time of the bombing raids in the summer of 1943, the German surrender, and the British occupation. The art of these years reflects on the Nazi past, the consequences of war, and the challenges of the postwar period.
In the 1950s, economic recovery met a retreat into the private sphere – and a new generation of artists introduced fresh impulses, moving between melancholy, abstraction, and a spirit of renewal. The division of Germany, the Cold War, and the fear of nuclear weapons also find expression in the exhibited works.
The exhibition makes clear: many of the themes from that era remain relevant today – in times of social crisis or political tension. Art provides space for remembrance and reflection – then and now.
Opening hours: Friday: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
