The Barkenhoff Collection

The Life and Complete Works of the Universal Artist Heinrich Vogeler

The exhibition at the Barkenhoff offers an overview of Heinrich Vogeler's rich body of work and unique creativity: from his time at the Düsseldorf Art Academy through Art Nouveau and Expressionism to his later realist painting. His graphics, in particular, established his reputation as an Art Nouveau artist.

Vogeler was an incredibly versatile artist who, in addition to painting, worked as a book designer and illustrator, creating valuable artisanal objects such as jewelry, porcelain, and glass. The exhibition also showcases Vogeler as a designer of furniture and interiors. Design sketches, original furniture pieces, architectural drawings, and models reveal his working process and highlight his talent in architecture, where he also produced significant works.

In his later works, one can see how Vogeler evolved as an artist under the influence of his experiences in World War I, placing social utopias at the center of his creations. In 1931, he emigrated to Russia, where he died in 1942.