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Henry Thode

1857 – 1920

German art historian

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About Henry Thode

Lived 1857 – 1920 (aged 63). Henry Thode was a German art historian and university teacher.

Henry Thode (13 January 1857 – 19 November 1920) was a German art historian. He was born in Dresden and died in Copenhagen.

Biography He was an art historian at the time of the Weimar republic. He wrote against the prevailing ideas of the time that art from outside of Germany, such as French Impressionism was superior to traditional academic or native art.

Thode believed that great German art should illustrate technical skill, realism and the German spirit. He also felt that art should be understood by all, not just academics and the bourgeois. Thode wrote a great deal about how the modern art of the Impressionists attempted to both destroy 'true' German art and the 'true' German spirit.

His philosophies were very important in the formulation of the cultural policies of the Third Reich, especially in terms of 'degenerate' art.

His wife was Daniela von Bülow, first daughter of Hans von Bülow and Cosima Liszt.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Vienna, University of Bonn
Employers
Heidelberg University, University of Bonn

People in Henry Thode's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Henry Thode's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Henry Thode?

German art historian (1857-1920)

When was Henry Thode born?

Henry Thode was born on 13 January 1857 in Dresden.

When did Henry Thode die?

Henry Thode died on 19 November 1920 in Copenhagen.

What was Henry Thode's occupation?

Henry Thode was an art historian and university teacher.

What nationality was Henry Thode?

Henry Thode was German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Henry Thode

· Wikidata: Q68791

· DBpedia: Henry Thode

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Thode. https://biography.guide/henry-thode/

MLA: "Henry Thode." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-thode/.

Chicago: "Henry Thode." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-thode/.

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