What's on at Europe's Museums
August 30, 2004
Goethe and Grass landscapes
In commemoration of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 255th birthday, the Goethe National Museum in Weimar has paired his work for the first time with that of Günter Grass -- but not the literary masterpieces they're famous for. Instead, the show concentrates on their sketches and drawings with a special focus on landscapes. The exhibition of the authors' "double gifts" presents 91 of their works in a way that not only shows the artists' impressions of nature but also illustrates the immense changes that have taken place over the last 200 years. Goethe's pictures come mostly from Thuringia, Italy and Switzerland and depict the harmony of man and the natural world, while Grass' "trash landscapes" and "dead wood" present a deserted view of modern man's use of the environment.
The exhibition is on show until Oct. 24,. Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Inside the Warsaw Ghetto
Jewish life in the Warsaw Ghetto is the theme of the "Oneg Schabbat" exhibition in Cologne's National Socialism Documentation Center. An underground archive of original testimony put together and hidden in milk cans and metal boxes by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and 50 helpers -- most of whom died along with Ringelblum during the Holocaust -- is at the center of the exhibition, which normally is at home in Warsaw's Jewish History Institute. Ration cards, identity papers, personal letters, drawings and photos from November 1940 through 1942 are used to show the everyday life and living conditions of the Poles who lived in the ghetto.
"Oneg Schabbat" is on show in Cologne until Sept. 26. It can be seen Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
English take on German fairy tales
David Hockney's 1969 illustrations for the Grimm fairy tales are on show at the Museum of Childhood in London. The renowned English painter found inspiration for the works in the stories of Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin and Little Red Riding Hood. Visitors can also view the museum's collection of toys from all over the world. Germany's main contribution to 19th century playtime was wooden toys, of which it was the greatest exporter and which are part of the museum's permanent collection.
The exhibition runs until Oct. 10, daily, except Fridays, from 10:00 a.m. until 5:50 p.m.
Danish brewers collect French masters
Renovations to Copenhagen's Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek have sent almost 250 of the most important artworks from the collection of Denmark's Carlsberg brewery dynasty to the Royal Academy in London. Among the collection is the world's largest Gauguin collection as well as bronze statues from Degas and masterpieces from Monet, Manet and Cezanne.
"Ancient Art to Post-Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen" runs Sept. 18 through Dec. 10 and can be seen seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Dutch take on American pop culture
The Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Netherlands is showing 200 never before seen works from US artist Paul McCarthy. "Brain Box Dream Box" is a collection of the McCarthy's drawings, some in massive formats, displaying his impressions of popular culture. The 59-year-old's themes range from the world of television and advertisement to Hollywood and Walt Disney. Added to this are four large-scale sculptural ensembles and two video installations that first attracted the art world's attention to the McCarthy.
"Brain Box Dream Box" can be seen Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Looking back on the everyday
The Tate Modern in London has dedicated a retrospective to the photographer Robert Frank. The groundbreaking everyday photo series "Peru," "London," "Wales" and "Black White and Things" are all being shown. The exhibition consists of some 150 black-and-white photographs as well as films, many of which have never been shown outside the United States. The show also coincides with the Swiss-born American artist's 80th birthday on Nov. 9.
"Storylines" is running from Oct. 28 until Jan. 30 and is open Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.