Eroticism, death and the devil - How Gothic art captivates us | DW Documentary

Death and the devil. Nudity and eroticism. Horror. With its daring subjects and blazing colors, the art of the Gothic period captivated viewers some 500 years ago, and still affects us deeply, today.
This documentary focuses on some of the most spectacular panels and paintings of the Gothic period. The mid-15th century saw the creation of works like "Purgatory," "Hell," and "Paradise." Gothic specialists introduce us to these works, while explaining just how innovative Gothic painting really was. They walk us through the beauty of the colors, show us just how daring the erotic scenes can be, and highlight the raw power of the devils and monsters.
Art historian and director Grit Lederer explains how special macro-optic technology sheds new light on the artworks‘ tiniest details, while the storied Cologne Cathedral opens at midnight to let art historians examine the "Liebeszauber" painting, still shrouded in mystery to this day.
#dwdocumentary #freedocumentary #art #documentary
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[@AwokenEntertainment]

Wow this type art has always had a creepy yet alluring feel to me. So interesting to learn about its history, and what was going on with humanity while these were being created and prevalent in society..

[@BestIsntEasy]

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. Many a community we annihilated; they incurred our retribution while they were asleep, or wide awake. You would think that they were awake, when they were in fact asleep. We turned them to the right side and the left side, while their dog stretched his arms in their midst. Had you looked at them, you would have fled from them, stricken with terror. 6 Men can only reproduce human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven; 7 so don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again!

[@chlorine5795]

​@@BestIsntEasy huh ? 🥴

[@lucasjames7524]

Absolutely fantastic, DW! I love these documentaries about historical things, and the dive into art history is a tremendous experience! Wonderful production, and excellent topic and presentation, as always! :-)

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for the positive feedback, Lucas!

[@ModulerDrone]

This is an amazing documentary indeed! DW you are a gem for humanity

[@PrimaudiaRecord]

Could watch these all day. In a world increasingly digitised it's a relief to see that the old artistic forms are still studied and shared.

[@theinceptiongallery9999]

DW always brings out good documentaries 👍

[@chris432t6]

The best imo.👍🙂

[@windowsxp9120]

I swear DW can not make a bad video. Every video they make on any topic is just top tier content.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! We're glad you enjoy our content. :-)

[@that1guy899]

@@DWDocumentary everything I watch from your channel is entertaining and informative, thank you for putting on the work to spread this work! 👍

[@vikashsharma9837]

@@Semtexxt It doesn't matter gentleman.wether they use British English or American.people knows both.

[@silvanski]

From listening to DW on the shortwave radio way back in the 1990s to watching these documentaries 30 years later, Deutsche Welle keeps bringing excellent content.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for your positive feedback. We really appreciate it!

[@nefwaenre]

Gothic art will forever be the best in my opinion. There something so fascinating, etherial yet very human in the art of "The Damned".

[@that1guy899]

As an "artist" myself! I've always been a huge fan of ancient art pieces and studying/exploring the history behind each different style and I agree 100%. There really is something incredible and fascinating about ancient gothic art.

[@Moodboard39]

Yeaa, makes u think . Not like superhero or what everyone is doing

[@Moodboard39]

@@that1guy899 yess

[@judithwyer389]

Twenty nine minutes in they finally mention oil painting. It was the move away from tempera to oil painting which was decisive in portraying nuance of color and tone. Oil painting came later to Italy via Antonello da Messina.

[@WhitneyDahlin]

I want a more in-depth documentary about death and the maiden. It's a common motif in art all throughout human history of a young woman contrasted with the grim reaper or skeletons meant to represent death. I just think there's very interesting symbolism that goes across time. There's really a lot to be said about it and I would love to see a full length documentary on it. I've never even really heard anyone talk about it beyond a short mention here and there maybe a 5 minute video if we're lucky. I want a full length documentary and analysis on it.

[@geinikan1kan]

very enjoyable, thank you DW. Even if "gothic" was originally a dismissive term for "northern" art, Schongauer shows even such painting and engraving could be a precursor to later art we have come to associate with the Italian Renaissance. We are so flooded with imagery, images are so prevalent and easily accessible, we must take a hypothetical step back to appreciate the significance of one painting or print and in a sense "meditate" on the many meanings and images produced by several hands of the artist and perhaps his students. This doc reminded me of that great shift to mechanical reproduction described by Benjamin. I wonder if "cult art" is too strong a term here. And yet I am not sure how to discuss the period when the first shift to mechanical reproduction in the engraving was taking hold of countries and the continent of Europe.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts on the topic. We’re glad you liked the documentary.

[@LouiseAttaque888]

Beautiful and amazing! Thank you for this great documentary, it was delightful to watch!

[@DWDocumentary]

Hi Luisa, Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. We’re glad you liked the documentary. Greetings from Germany!

[@chaterjipriyam4889]

Beautiful ! All the 'Gothic Colours' always appear as new to me .

[@themysteriousdomainmoviepalace]

Wonderful! I love this so much! Thank you.

[@DWDocumentary]

Glad you liked the film. We upload documentaries regularly so don’t forget to subscribe! 🙂

[@Seven-Planets-Sci-Fi-Tuber]

8:32 definition of Gothic Art

[@bassamiq5139]

Interesting docs and great for practicing English, thanks DW.

[@lyamia13]

I loved this documentary so much! I hope you will make more. We miss the art in these dark times

[@scotishjohn]

Great doc again

[@fretnesbutke3233]

DW is the best. Antiquities have an aura of the Sacred beyond their subject. Being brought up Catholic hasn't softened the strangeness of this art by familiarity. The U.S., although we're country bumpkins by comparison with Europe,has its great museums where the impact of these works can put a chill down your spine first-hand.

[@mariakelly1059]

DW documentaries are terrific!

[@gajaholeng440]

life is full of mystery

[@Moodboard39]

Yeaa

[@dream_emulator]

DW is the only channel where I first Like the video and then watch it.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and for your trust! :)

[@StephiSensei26]

Grossartig! DW does it again!

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching!

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

Art and art history entered my life at a time of fragility, insecurity and sadness. Both helped me a lot, because they took my attention away from the melancholy and added some depth to my consciousness. I learned to be more ironic and less demanding of myself and the world. Everything is beauty and tragedy to be observed and appreciated. With art and art history I learned that all our weaknesses, insecurities and sadness are transitory and can become aesthetic raw material. This documentary is very good and educational.

[@rdsc.455]

Excellent ! DW should present a series of these like documentaries depicting the European middle ages history,art, culture, religion and their effects on European people.DW PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF MY REQUEST.

[@sissywizard1764]

Great work 👌

[@Simonjose7258]

7:58 Wow! I was wondering... and those ribbons? "Gothic Thought Bubbles!!!" 🤯👏🥳 amazing 👏 really beautiful.

[@kamalpreetsingh1686]

I enjoyed this documentary and it connected me more with art and Literature..... Please make documentary about History of Literature of any country, region or place If you can.....

[@tamasklozer3271]

Enjoyed watching this, great documentary, Thank you!

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@ilovemeevennow9125]

I like sound effects and whole thing is super nice 👍

[@Goch46]

The imagination of the artists was mesmerising

[@leftap484]

I love so much spending time with your documents .. thank you

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for watching. We're glad you like the film!

[@windowsxp9120]

DW is the best media company Change my mind.

[@citrocar1028]

Very informative!

[@Davjola]

Thank you DW, I’m amazed by your documentaries, they’re so good I’m binge watching them

[@DWDocumentary]

Hi! Thanks for watching! We try to cover a broad spectrum of important and often difficult global issues and we really appreciate your positive feedback. :-)

[@cloudeverything]

i only wish it was longer - really appreciate the selection of paintings, the music, the pacing and the incisive commentary

[@GHOSTWORKER19]

Always the best in documentaries. DW .

[@ankuronlyu]

One more best Doc thanks DW

[@FalconTalk]

Those zoom-ins are amazing . I feel like I just took three college courses in art history

[@vyvienvp3413]

Fantastic. A brilliant documentary by DW. Riveting and informative, shall have to view it again.

[@mudfishification]

Fabulous DW episod! Thanks!

[@prichardgs]

Great documentary

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you Jonathan for watching!

[@mobeyond]

welldone, a very good lesson of European history and art !!!! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@marioandresheviacavieres1923]

More like this please. Muchas gracias from the west coast of the US.

[@leomilani_gtr]

This doc is way better than other art docs from DW. It is weird to me that BBC made better art docs than DW, given Germans are so cool esthetically.

[@taterkaze9428]

Really good use of art to illuminate history. Excellent work.

[@oshiondagreat2306]

You know the documentary will be fire when the DW logo is on the top left corner of the screen. This was an absolute masterpiece 💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@WinstonTheAmazingCanadian]

Absolutely fantastic documentary as usual DW.

[@rjgalz8043]

Always been a fan of your documentaries. Thanks!

[@munnamostafasaikh1498]

Absolutely fantastic DW .

[@chris432t6]

Wonderful! Thank you DW.

[@louispitagno9422]

Thank you for protecting our history 🙏

[@opalfishsparklequasar8663]

💖 Amen.💖

[@SonicPoetryIII]

What a voyage in time this was. Great.

[@itstoogooditswaytoogood3211]

best channel on yt

[@Ammon6]

Great doc!!! I absolutely love it!!!

[@alejandroestevez876]

Amazing content!

[@dollandine]

GIVE US MORE PLEASE DW!!!!! YT need moore art content and less conspiracy & hate videos. Please make more of this!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@madisondampier3389]

what's your thoughts on free healthcare for all?

[@infynvn]

Beautiful documentary ! It's a humble request to DW ,make this documentary in Hindi too for India (pls do not forget to hire good hindi narrator with attractive voice ) pls we indians love your documentary.

[@kickassguy704]

@DW Documentary please make a documentary on the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. A SriLankan man was recently beaten and then burnt alive in Pakistan by a huge mob of factory workers over alleged allegations that he disrespected Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The sad part is that all these workers were his colleagues whom he had worked for more than 5 years. 🥺🥺These bastards were taking selfies and celebrating when he was been set on fire. There were more than a 100 people on the spot and no one decided to help him or call the authorities. They were instead happy that he was being rightly punished. The poor man didn’t even know what his crime was. He was innocent. His only crime was that he was a non-Muslim working in the notorious radical country of Pakistan. Please raise this issue.#JusticeforPriyantha 😞😞😞

[@Kanal7Indonesia]

Oh my God 🥺 never go near them Satanists !!

[@mariaconnolly6672]

Excellent, love this 💖💖💖🎄☃️🎅

[@trranjith1247]

Absolutely amazing and informative about European art history.

[@Kanal7Indonesia]

I love European art, so diverse ❤️ from Asia

[@loisthiessen9134]

absolutely amazing and enlightening! Thank you, DW!

[@Sodhi.jaspreet]

Gothic meant to be clumsy and inharmonious. at beginning . but after travel so far in form of art culture and music and other associate acts still fascinates us.

[@arthurfilemon6038]

There's so much interesting music from the date that would be a good fit for the soundtrack. Why use modern/contemporary music? I really don't get it.

[@hasslefreerental7833]

Amazing content & wonderful documentaries. I love this channel and it's definitely one of my top 10 on you-tube. Thank you guys!!! (and anyone else involved in making these GREAT docu-series possible! ❤❤❤✌🤗)

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks a lot for watching and for your positive feedback. We are glad to know that we are one of your favorite KZbin Channels! 🙂

[@mistybehaviours]

I did not know that DW makes documentaries before but now I have seen a few and have enjoyed them, you have chosen great topics and I can’t wait to watch more. Thank you and I love that they are free.

[@iart2838]

surprisingly, no mention of invention of oil paints in the North that allowed those masterful shading techniques. Oils spread to Vanice first. Italian artists before oils used tempera which did not allow such details.

[@SmileTallson]

Great documentary! Thank you.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you! We're glad you liked the documentary. Subscribe to our channel for the latest uploads.

[@Onlyonekittycat]

Great documentary but please, what is the name of the beautiful music in the intro ???

[@binstar8269]

Stefan Lochner practices ray tracing before RTX was a thing!

[@teresaniumata2742]

Thank you for sharing,I'm a Catholic,and I fully believed it.May our Lord have Mercy on us.

[@madisondampier3389]

And the illusion worked

[@Moodboard39]

Catholic is full of paganism

[@FRG10PUBG]

Always amazing to see the great masters.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Excellent Artist enlightening Video shared by Excellent Documentary( DW) Channel ...Frightening from Death ( human Losing Earth soul ) leaded this Famous Artist to labelling to Common Guilts of Humanity existence on Earth with translation Traditions of Builds & instruments thanks for Sharing...Too Nice Painting Pictures its classic Original a wonderful Pictures of Germany in 14 Century

[@ethiodiaspora2691]

So wonderful

[@bekaludile1281]

Ethiopian Orthodox church believe in such type of pictures.

[@micheltibon6552]

I must admit I find it shocking when I see someone browsing through a historical book without gloves. Or is the booklet a replica?

[@vyvienvp3413]

Yes agree, I too was shocked seeing that, what no gloves?!

[@Edo_Marinus]

Often, wearing gloves would do more damage to a book than not wearing them, because they make the handling of the object more clumsy and the fabric of e.g. cotton gloves is much rougher than human skin. Also, if the paper is of good quality, e.g. does not contain too much wood pulp, your skin’s natural acidity will do little to no harm, especially after having washed your hands with soap (which reduces acidity).

[@madisondampier3389]

@@Edo_Marinus thank goodness we have science to explain things like this instead of relying on faith alone that "gloves = safer", that may work in preventing the spread of microbes/body oils, and keeping warm in winter, it most certainly is not "more delicate" though, we have sensitive nerve ending in our fingers to make sure we're not handling materials with too much pressure, and if anything skin is one of the softest surfaces there is if not covered in hair or calloused

[@Moodboard39]

@@Edo_Marinus interesting

[@spmoran4703]

Great works of art . Who needs the renaissance.

[@veenalouis5625]

A dedicated channel #DW

[@Edo_Marinus]

16:14 Extremely astute observation!

[@yunussulaiman2070]

Wow. I Love This Documentary.

[@DWDocumentary]

We're glad you like the film. Thanks for watching.

[@magdycomics]

Appretiated ❤️

[@shaunnacarter6053]

Hieronymous has byfar the most intricate works It baffles me just putting my mind around the era/method

[@vikashsharma9837]

Very informative documentary presented by DW.

[@jibrilrahim1930]

Could you believe that as I was watching this doc my religious Muslim friend was lamenting that it's haram? Thanks to Allah I left religion 🙏.thank you DW ❤❤❤

[@Moodboard39]

Good you left Islam.

[@hindutvamustbeeradicated1200]

@@Moodboard39 Says the Alchemist

[@alexandramontes3944]

Excellent documentary. I would like to know, please, what is the name of the painting with the couple and the name of the artist. Thank you.

[@piyalidutta5466]

It's an epic video, please make a video on frescoes also

[@ricardosuarez8023]

Brilliant! DW at its finest. Thank you.

[@ilpezkato]

I´d appreciate if someone can provide the name of the artists

[@MD-cx6yt]

Jan van Eyck was born in Liege (French speaking city in Belgium), and spent his life mainly in Bruges (flemish speaking part "). That doesn't sound like the Netherlands to me. insightful docu though.

[@publicminx]

he was born in Maaseik/Limburg which was and still is the Flemish part (and back then part of the Holy Roman Empire in one way or another - just like Northern Italy/Rome etc.. One has to keep in mind that there was a trade and information highway between the Hanseatic league cities, Northern Italian cities and Germany as base (especially along the Rhine river as water highway). There is also a reason why this axis from Northern Italy to Germany and Netherlands/Belgium is still the most industrialized, most populated (biggest megapolis in Europe with over 100 mio ppl, called 'blue banana') region of Europe still today ...

[@curiousworld7912]

Excellent documentary - DW has some of the best online. I love Byzantine art and architecture, and see 'Gothic' as the next step in their evolution - just as they evolved again, during the Renaissance. I've rarely looked at the progression of style or taste in a 'valued' sense, as some did in the Renaissance period. Just as everything else; art changes with time. The Gothic is absorbing in its depth, composition, color, as well as some of the subject matter, and the architecture's fundamental material is light - something very different from the Romanesque. I fear we've lost a lot of the sheer beauty and imagination in both, in latter years. 'Function' seems to have replaced any appeal to the senses, and much of our art seems a conversation the artist is having with him/herself. I feel both art and architecture have lost much of the human connection that both served, in the years following the second world war to the present. That, is my one value judgement. :) Thank you, again, for the marvelous documentary.

[@photorreia]

What´s the name of song? Sounds like Dexter theme opening one, from Carsten Rocker?

[@melindathomas21]

This is SOME GREAT DOCUMENTARY WORK ,, 2👍👍ON THIS ONE...

[@paoloeustaquio2248]

I like the voice actor. I remember him from the 48 Laws of Power Audiobook. 🤘😎

[@johnnysmith9155]

Love DW documentaries.

[@dubsar]

Thank you. This documentary is also a work of art.

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

I have a couple of pieces of gothic art in my house. I mostly use it to scare my kids into eating their veggies.

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

No its some wierd stuff...some demon eating small children. I got it at a yard sale and they told me its an imitation of an famous piece

[@melindathomas21]

WHY?? WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR KIDS??? SMH

[@madisondampier3389]

@@melindathomas21 remember when adam and eve were damned to eternal sin for themselves and all of their children for eating a piece of fruit, I wonder what inspired that story.... maybe some disobedient kids eating too much from the family tree needed some discipline....

[@Moodboard39]

@@TojiFushigoroWasTaken one of Greek gods

[@hindutvamustbeeradicated1200]

You are a real villager

[@austinzusi9021]

What is the first hyme that is sung in the first 30 seconds of this video?

[@Adam-zw4be]

Superb presentation. Admirable music. An experience that is memorable for ever!

[@GlassEyedDetectives]

Interesting timing for this retrospection. Hieronymus Bosch was for me, was the defining artist of the era in that he depicted the human condition perfectly in his 'Garden Of Earthly Delights' showing how the robber barons/landed gentry lived while oppressing the feudal peasantry fell victim to all the fallout from starvation, disease, madness and ultimately death.

[@Moodboard39]

Damn , gruesome

[@paulriggall8370]

The "monster" in the thumbnail - the one with the pointy teeth on the bottom jaw - that visited me about six years ago when I was in an ancient woodland area. I did smoke something, and twenty seconds later I was in a parallel universe with the most unusual creatures. One in particular came RIGHT UP TO MY FACE! 😁 I recognised him as being similar to the gruffalo, but he had clothes on, like old world gypsy clothes. Although he had these big fangs, he had the most beautiful, childlike eyes. His head was around twice the size of ours and the expression on his face was a "WHAT NOT ON EARTH ARE YOU?" expression. These beings are real. They inhabit a different dimension that physically is running alongside ours but they cannot see us - just as we can't see them. For five short minutes I had the privilege of meeting the others.

[@felixf4378]

Meanwhile: * banana taped to the wall *

[@anitemalauakupouli8936]

What the hang I did not know about this in my 34 years Breathing. Thanks DW

[@DWDocumentary]

Thanks for watching.