Barkenhoff
Heinrich Vogeler's ›Gesamtkunstwerk‹
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.
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Heinrich Vogeler
Die Geburt des Neuen Menschen, 1923
Heinrich Vogeler
Porträt Sonja Marchlewska (Bildnis einer Frau mit Kopftuch), 1923
Heinrich Vogeler
Am Heiderand, 1900
Heinrich Vogeler
Liebe, 1896
Heinrich Vogeler
Martha von Hembarg, 1894
Heinrich Vogeler
Vision, 1914
Heinrich Vogeler
Werden, 1921
Heinrich Vogeler
Der Aufbau der zentralasiatischen Sowjetrepubliken
(Agitationstafel), 1927
Heinrich Vogeler
Tod und Alte, 1896
Heinrich Vogeler
Melusine (Detail), c. 1912
Barkenhoff
March 23 to June 9, 2025
Painting with Threads. Woven Images by Ursula Jaeger
Ursula Jaeger is one of the most extraordinary tapestry weavers of the 20th and 21st centuries in Germany. The artist’s multifaceted oeuvre encompasses socially relevant, literary, musical, and religious themes. "For me, tapestry weaving is painting with threads, without imitating painting," Jaeger describes her work.
Her tapestries are crafted in traditional Gobelin technique using linen threads but also incorporate non-textile materials such as paper, papyrus, or veneer, often combined with painting at the loom. Her tapestries can be found in museums, public buildings, and churches. They are now on display—especially in celebration of her 90th birthday—in the spring special exhibition at the Remise in the Barkenhoff.
The Place
Art and Life as One
The Barkenhoff – Low German for "Birch Farm" – is the historic residence and studio of artist Heinrich Vogeler, a co-founder of the Worpswede artists' colony. Between 1898 and 1908, Vogeler transformed a farmhouse in wild, overgrown land into a classical, elegant artist's residence in four major construction phases. By 1900, it had become the artistic center of Worpswede, attracting many international guests.
After World War I, and with Vogeler's shift towards communism, the house became the site of various attempts to establish socialist living models, including a commune and a work school. Following Vogeler's departure, the Barkenhoff was used as a children's home by the Red Aid and later for private purposes. Since 1981, it has been open to the public through the establishment of the Barkenhoff Foundation Worpswede.
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Bildtitel, © Fotograf
Heinrich Vogeler
Artist, Dreamer, Visionary
Heinrich Vogeler (1872–1942) was a versatile artist, designer, and committed social reformer, regarded as a central figure of the Worpswede artist colony. He became known for his Art Nouveau paintings and illustrations, which depict dreamy, idealized landscapes and scenes characterized by harmony. One of his most famous works, The Concert or Summer Evening (1905), reflects his longing for a peaceful, idyllic world.
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Große Kunstschau
Enjoying art in the heart of the artists’ village
