The massive number of orphans and widows without a means of feeding themselves resulted in prostitution on a scale not seen before in Germany.
Additionally, the repeal and relaxation of laws forbidding prostitution, homosexuality, and other 'moral vices' led to an explosion of an underground culture, with people enjoying pursuits not available in other European Cities.
Themes of the works include sexual freedom, prostitution, poverty, war profiteering, disfigurement and decay, homosexuality, and transvestites.
The exhibition was organized by Sabine Rewald, Jacques and Natasha Gelman Curator in the Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Art.
The works of this exhibit can be found in the book Glitter and Doom Archived 2007-03-02 at the Wayback Machine, by Yale University Press.