Kunst und Identitatspolitik: Architektur und Bildkunste im Prozess der tschechischen Nationsbildung

The national emancipation of the Czechs in the 19th century is regarded as a model case of the formation of a stateless language and cultural nation . It took place within the Habsburg multi-ethnic state in direct competition with German-speaking society, its culture and politics in Bohemia and the monarchy, but without ever striving for state independence. Architecture and urban planning as well as many works of visual art in public space defined cultural individuality and difference. In this way, a canon could be drawn up, which at the same time represented an offer of identification and positioned the specific Czech culture in relation to competing national cultures. At the same time, the art policy of the Czech national movement was an important instrument for the integration and differentiation of national society from the start.