t Karl Schmidt-Rottluff exhibit at the Brücke Museum, Dahlem
Alongside a slew of big-hitter institutions such as those on Museumsinsel, visitors to Berlin can find an endless constellation of independent galleries and private collections, showcasing the evolving history of artistic expression.
t Karl Schmidt-Rottluff exhibit at the Brücke Museum, Dahlem
Visit the Alte Nationalgalerie to see Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s Gotischer Dom am Wasser (1813). In the 19th century Romanticism turned away from religious themes and instead focused on the natural world and personal expression. This painting by Schinkel is a perfect example, cleaving to the themes of Romanticism with its stormy skies and Gothic setting.
Die Brücke (The Bridge) was an artistic movement founded by German Expressionists, who aimed to connect the Neo-Romantic and Expressionist movements. Despite the short existence of the group (1905–13), its members produced many distinctive works in various media. Head to the Brücke Museum in Dahlem to find out more.
The East Side Gallery, a 1.3-km- (0.8-mile-) long stretch of the Berlin Wall features dozens of political pieces, including Dmitri Vrubel’s disturbing depiction of Brezhnev and Honecker kissing (1990). The gallery perfectly captures the nontraditional, often rebellious nature of modern street art.
Religious themes were a popular source of inspiration in Renaissance art, which developed in the early 15th century. Donatello’s intimate Pazzi Madonna (c 1425–30) was a pioneering piece in Renaissance marble relief artworks - make your way to the Bode-Museum on Museumsisel to see it for yourself.
Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) was a reaction to Expressionism, and aimed for as much realism as possible across a variety of disciplines from architecture to painting. Founded by the likes of Otto Dix and George Grosz, the movement originated in Germany in the 1920s. See great works by these artists at the Berlinisches Galerie (Alte Jakobstrasse 124–128).
The Berlin Welcome Card includes unlimited public transport and discounts on many galleries.
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