Arnold Schönbergs Konfrontationen mit Antisemitismus (II)

Abstract

This article examines Arnold Schoenberg’s encounters with anti-Semitism between 1901 and 1917, focusing on the socio-cultural and political influences that shaped his artistic and personal development. Taking as its starting point Schoenberg’s early conversion from Judaism to Protestantism and his later return to Judaism, the study analyses the impact that anti-Semitic discourse in Vienna and Berlin had on his work and his self-image as a Jewish artist. Particular attention is paid to anti-Semitic hostility in the press, his role in the Viennese cultural scene, and the effects of the political climate under Mayor Karl Lueger. The article demonstrates how Schönberg’s experiences of anti-Semitism shaped his identity and ultimately led to a conscious rejection of assimilationist aspirations.