ZDF/Arte

The Antagonists – Rivalry in Art: Nolde vs Liebermann

Berlin 1910: The conflict between Nolde and Liebermann tears apart the Berlin Secession and reflects the cracks that will soon divide German society.

Berlin 1910. It all starts with a painting by Emil Nolde. It’s called “Pentecost” and is so absurdly multi-coloured and full of wild faces that the art-minded jury of the Berlin Secession – following the lead of their president Max Liebermann – refuses to showcase the artwork in their exhibition in the spring of 1910. The impressionist Liebermann simply doesn’t understand how one can paint like that, with colours that cannot be found in nature. Nolde frets and fumes and initiates a public dispute – he calls Liebermann’s impressionistic style “weak and corny”. Liebermann on the other hand fights back with solidity and the brash adversary is swiftly excluded from the Berlin Secession. But Max Liebermann is far from regaining peace and quiet as Nolde is just getting started – he wants to become as successful and influential as Liebermann. Amidst the commotion of the Third Reich, Nolde continues the acrimonious fight between expressionism and impressionism.

About the series:

Two outstanding artists, one location, and an acrimonious rivalry – these are the key ingredients for the three-part series “The Antagonists: Rivalry in Art” which deals with envy and burning ambition, drive and the desire to reach new heights of artistic creation, as well as failure and the triumph of success. At the heart of each episode lies a conflict and a break with tradition that will eventually lead to innovation. Through their rivalry we will come to understand their real character and their true story will be revealed.


1910 年的柏林：諾爾德和利伯曼之間的衝突撕裂了柏林分離派，並反映出德國社會很快就會分裂的裂痕。

1910 年柏林。它被稱為“五旬節”，色彩繽紛，充滿了狂野的面孔，以至於柏林分離派的藝術評審團——在他們的總統馬克斯·利伯曼的領導下——拒絕在1910 年春天的展覽中展示這件藝術品。諾爾德惱怒不已，並引發了一場公開爭論——他稱利伯曼的印象派風格「軟弱而老套」。另一方面，利伯曼堅決反擊，這個傲慢的對手很快就被排除在柏林分離派之外。但馬克斯·利伯曼還遠遠沒有恢復平靜，因為諾爾德才剛開始——他想變得像利伯曼一樣成功和有影響力。在第三帝國的喧囂中，諾爾德繼續表現主義和印象派之間的激烈鬥爭。

關於該系列：

兩位傑出的藝術家、一個地點和一場激烈的競爭——這些是三部分系列「對手：藝術中的競爭」的關鍵要素，該系列講述了嫉妒和燃燒的野心、動力和達到藝術創作新高度的渴望，以及失敗和成功的勝利。每一集的核心都是與傳統的衝突和決裂，最終將帶來創新。透過他們的競爭，我們將了解他們的真實性格，他們的真實故事也將被揭露。

Documentary DE, 2016, 53 min.

Written and directed by: Henrike Sandner
Director of Photography: Philipp Baben der Erde, Christoph Valentien, Jürgen Rehberg, Erik Schimschar
Sound: Robert Sandow, Jens Mattner
Edited by: Anne Kliem, Abdul Twebti
Design and Animation: Andreea Wende, Michael Wende
Narrator: Hansi Jochmann
Music: Johannes Beere
Postproduction Supervisor: Franziska Frahm
Colour Grading: Jan Hartmann
Recording Mixer: Jörn Steinhoff
Production Management: Lucie Tamborini, Pit Pallesche
Line Producer: Linn Sackarnd
Producer: Bernhard von Hülsen, Maria Willer
Commissioning Editors ZDF: Dieter Schneider, Lena Goliasch

A production of 3B Produktion GmbH, in cooperation with ZDF/Arte.
With the support of Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.

©2016 ZDF/3B Produktion

Internationaler Vertrieb: Windrose

Max Liebermann (20 July 1847 – 8 February 1935) was a German painter and printmaker, and one of the leading proponents of Impressionism in Germany and continental Europe. In addition to his activity as an artist, he also assembled an important collection of French Impressionist works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Liebermann