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Neue Sachlichkeit is a stylistic reaction to German Expressionism. The movement originated in the First World War and most of the artists involved served at some point in the German army. Their ideas about the world and art are therefore strongly influenced by their experiences in the military.

The name 'Neue Sachlichkeit' comes from the exhibition held in Mannheim in 1923, which attempted to return to order in the aftermath of the war. The way of designing was also applied in architecture and design. The Dutch variant, New Objectivity, can be recognized by its angular and geometric shapes without ornaments or decoration. This way of designing is reminiscent of De Stijl and Cubism. The emphasis in design is on technology, the creative process, austerity, functionality and purpose.

The artists of the Neue Sachlichkeit did not unite in groups, but worked individually. They worked in different styles, but they had themes in common: mainly the horror of war, the social hypocrisy and moral decay, the plight of the poor and the rise of nationalism. The artists felt that the conditions in Germany demanded an anti-idealistic, socially engaged, realistic painting style.