Kritisk Revy was established in 1926.[1] The first issue appeared in July 1926.[4] The founders were architects and left-wing intellectuals.[1] The headquarters was in Copenhagen. The editor of the magazine was Poul Henningsen.[5][6] Although three issues were published in the first year, the frequency of Kritisk Revy was quarterly for the following years.[4]
Kritisk Revy contained articles that led to various polemics.[4] These articles were not only written in Danish but also in other languages.[2] The focus of magazine was avant-garde architecture and design.[1][7] However, the topics were not limited to these subjects in that the magazine covered various topics related to Danish life, including nature preservation, literature and religion.[3] The magazine also embraced a wide range of modern topics, including advertising, shop window design, jazz music, variety theatre and film.[1]
The contributors adopted the notion of art for society's sake.[1] The magazine laid the basis of early Scandinavian modernism.[1] Poul Henningsen developed a new approach towards modernism in the magazine which focused on functionalism, criticism and clarity.[8] It frequently carried articles about the architecture and planning of Copenhagen and other Nordic cities.[5] Significant contributors of Kritisk Revy included Otto Gelsted, Edvard Heiberg and Hans Kirk who would be a member of the Danish Communist Party.[4]
The magazine did not share the political approach of Klingen, a former Danish magazine, but affected from its approach towards European art.[2] This effect was observed in the large format of Kritisk Revy (35.2 x 21.6 cm).[2] In addition, the magazine also included frequent illustrations and graphic formats like Klingen.[2]
The circulation of Kritisk Revy ranged between 1800 and 2000 copies.[4] The magazine ceased publication after the publication of the eleventh issue appeared in Christmas 1928 with an announcement that Kritisk Revy accomplished the goals.[4]