The Trump administration newsletter called art in Smithsonian museums “objectionable art.” You know who else called art that exposed the truth in society objectionable? The Nazis. A short 🧵: When Impressionism began in France a similar art revolution was happening in www.npr.org/2025/08/24/n...
Germany. It was called Secessionism. Secessionist artists, like French Impressionists, were rejecting the rigid parameters that the Art Academies set for artists. Art Academies had control over art exhibitions, which at the time were the only way in which artists’ works were shown. If an artist
didn’t comply with the guidelines defined by the academies (specifically they were a list of acceptable images, painting styles and themes) then the artists’ works were rejected for an exhibition. So movements like Impressionism & Secessionism were seen as radical. They challenged the power
structure and monopoly the Art Academies had on artists and the art world. You know about Impressionism right? Never heard of Secessionism? It’s because as Hitler started to gain power, he began to give speeches about making Germany great again. Then he started to name institutions he thought
made Germany look bad. Of course universities were targeted, but so was art. Specifically the Secessionist artists. The art was removed from public view. Then the artists were removed from schools. Then the artists were forced to comply to create only art approved by Hitler’s government or be
imprisoned for acting against the state. The oppression of art and artists just led to more oppression and of course as we know violence. So if you think the language from Trump about Smithsonian art is harmless, it isn’t. Thank you @npr.org & Mandalit del Barco for this story