The Neue Galerie presents important works of German Expressionism from its permanent collection. The exhibition examines themes of primitivism and modernity, two poles of Expressionism that artists employed to free themselves from the academic conventions of the nineteenth century.

The engagement of these artists with the zeitgeist of the early twentieth century in Germany led them to paint emotionally charged, often contrasting scenes. On display will be both lively depictions of cabaret and circus culture, as well as cityscapes of lonely, alienating Berlin streets. Among the artists whose works will be on view are Max Beckmann, Lovis Corinth, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Paul Klee, Franz Marc, August Macke, Hermann Max Pechstein, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff.