Like no other era before, architectural modernism is accompanied by criticism of ornamentation. This book examines for the first time the German architectural discourse between 1850 and 1930 and the ornament debate that developed during this period, also exploring it through the lens of genre questions and hierarchical concepts. While the first part discusses the received appearance of modernity in architecture through general historical overviews, the second part focuses on three definitions of ornament: the 'nomadic' historicist ornament, the 'disciplined' modern ornament, and the 'ornament of classicism.' From this perspective, a 'lower' primitive and a classical 'higher' understanding of ornament stand in contrast, corresponding to the hierarchy of genre order within the system of the arts. From here, the traditional understanding can be further explored.