Why did the Nazis include Edvard Munch’s work in their 1937 degenerate art exhibition?

The Nazi Party included the work of Edvard Munch in the 1937 degenerate art exhibition because his art, like that of many other modern artists, did not align with the Nazi Party's rigid aesthetic ideals.12

The Nazis promoted an academic style of art that emphasized themes of heroism and duty, while systematically suppressing contemporary movements—particularly Expressionism—which they labeled as "degenerate". By categorizing Munch’s work alongside that of other major 20th-century artists, the regime sought to disparage modernism, link it to perceived cultural decline, and showcase what they deemed the failings of such art to the German public. This propaganda effort was part of a broader campaign to enforce cultural conformity and promote the notion of Aryan superiority.134