On the pretext of the "Malverbot" (a cease and desist order disallowing painting), many German painters and sculptors after 1945 portrayed themselves in a one-sided way as persecuted artists. The reason given is often just the fact that they were represented at the "Entartete Kunst" exhibition with just one item of work. This does not take into account the fact that, apart from that, most artists were not troubled, and even benefited from public commissions. After the war, it was soon forgotten how everyday artists' activities were organized under the regulations issued by the "Reichskammer der bildenden Künste". What were the working conditions for artists and dealers? Was it forbidden to collect modern art? The book focuses for the first time on these legal aspects of art history under National Socialism.