“Few regimes in history devoted as much thought to the arts as the Third Reich. With a failed painter at the helm and several other ministers who felt they knew what was what, the Third Reich encouraged conformist painters, offering them huge prizes and incentives, and discouraged any who took liberties with their canon. During the regime’s heyday, many works were acquired by the state or by its leading lights, who had impressive budgets to spend on works at the annual art show in Munich and who scattered money like confetti.”