Towards a Collapsing World
COLLECTION DISPLAY
Feb 2026 - Feb 2027

The early decades of the twentieth century witnessed an extraordinary moment in German art, as artists responded to a modern world in flux with works that engaged deeply with contemporary society, politics and culture.

‘Towards a Collapsing World’ explores this period of significant cultural flourishing through a survey of works on paper by leading figures of German Expressionism. Rather than a single, unified approach, German Expressionism was characterised by a plurality of attitudes and styles, with artist groups such as Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) forming and dissolving in response to fluctuating ideologies. Common to these disparate voices was a shared belief in the power of art to effect social change.

The woodcut print became an important vehicle within German Expressionism, reviving a rich medieval heritage. Its stark, simplified forms – expressed through bold, flat patterns and raw aesthetic intensity – conveyed the inner turmoil and social critique of these expressionist artists with impassioned urgency.

'Towards a Collapsing World: German Expressionism' is on display from February 2026 to February 2027 in Gallery 9 (Philip Bacon Galleries), QAG. To make the most of your visit, check the exhibition dates, get information on getting here and parking, and find out about Gallery accessibility.

Above: Max Beckmann / Auferstehung (Resurrection) (from 'Gesichter (Faces)' portfolio) (detail) 1918 / Drypoint on paper / Gift of Timothy North and Denise Cuthbert through the QAGOMA Foundation 2023. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program