Menzel's Realism: Art and Embodiment in 19th Century Berlin

Michael Fried is a prominent art critic and historian. Fried explores the ongoing discourse concerning the origins and evolution of modernism, playing a pivotal role in shaping and expanding our understanding of the subject. In recognition of his significant contributions, Fried was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1985.

In this lecture, Fried explores the large and fascinating oeuvre of Adolf Menzel, one of the most important German artists of the 19th century who is scarcely known outside his native land. In this exploration, Fried seeks to make Menzel's achievement accessible to a wide audience, arguing that Menzel deserves to be recognized not only as one of the greatest painters and draftsmen of his century but also as a master realist whose work engages profoundly with an extraordinary range of issues, from the artistic to the scientific to the philosophical and the socio-political.