The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is bringing together art, cinema and a pivotal moment in history with a new exhibition that marks a first for U.S. museums.
“The Age of Anxiety: German Expressionism in Art and Film” opens Oct. 9 and will be on view through Jan. 10, 2027.
AMFA is the first museum in the United States to present the exhibition outside Germany, pairing paintings and prints with scenes from silent films to explore how artists responded to the political turmoil and social anxieties that followed World War I.
The exhibit features works shaped by German Expressionism, an artistic movement known for jagged lines, shadowy settings and unsettling beauty. Nine films from the era, including “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920), “Nosferatu” (1922) and “Metropolis” (1927), are presented alongside the artwork. AMFA will also host full-length screenings of three films in its Performing Arts Theater.
“I was thoughtful about uniquely tailoring ‘The Age of Anxiety’ to create a time-traveling experience through 20th-century art and events while positing exciting visual comparisons between German Expressionist art and the films it influenced,” says Dr. Catherine Walworth, curator of drawings at AMFA. “Dreams, visions, and creatures running amok are not just movie plots — they expressed real life anxieties for Germans at that time.”
Throughout the exhibition’s run, AMFA will host events and programs inspired by the exhibit, offering additional opportunities to explore German Expressionism and its lasting cultural impact.
Here’s what’s on the lineup:
- Oct. 15: Art Insights: “The Age of Anxiety”
- Oct. 30: Art on Film: “Nosferatu”
- Nov. 11: Art on Film: “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”
- Nov. 19: Art Insights: The Intersection of Art and Film
- Dec. 12: “The Age of Anxiety”-Inspired Painting Workshop
- Jan. 8: Art on Film: “Metropolis”
Learn more about “The Age of Anxiety” and upcoming programs on the AMFA website. Follow AMFA on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
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