The scholarly book "Neolithic Childhood" offers an in-depth analysis of the role of art during a time perceived as crisis-ridden between 1920 and 1940. It addresses the autonomy of art and questions its social and religious functions. The publication examines how avant-garde artists and thinkers, particularly those associated with Surrealism, dealt with the idea of art's purposelessness. At its core is the engagement with Carl Einstein's concept of "neolithic childhood," which is understood as a kind of retro-utopia. The volume includes essays by curators and scholars, primary texts by Einstein, as well as a comprehensive documentation of the accompanying exhibition. A glossary illuminates Einstein's theoretical vocabulary and related terms, making the book a valuable resource for art enthusiasts and scholars.