Ready to explore a hidden gem of Berlin’s art scene? Right here at Laubacher Straße 38, we find the Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin. This private art collection makes works of the 20th and 21st centuries accessible to the public through rotating exhibitions.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin is managed by Jutta and Christopher Breu. In 2014, they also founded an exhibition cabinet under the name Herr Hegenbarth. The collection has been at this location since July 2019. Previously, from 2014 to 2019, it was located in Berlin-Schöneberg.
The collection is named after Josef Hegenbarth. His colored and black and white pen and brush drawings are the main focus of the collection. The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin includes works from around 1900. You will find paintings, drawings, prints, and illustrated books here.
The collection focuses on illustration and book art. It gives attention to picture stories in children’s books. Illustrations of literary works and artist’s books are also featured. Comics, graphic novels, and animations are included as well. A large group of Hegenbarth’s literary drawings forms the starting point. These include detailed portfolios for the Nibelungenlied and Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts.
Other thematic focuses include the representation of animals and humans. These are depicted in everyday settings like the zoo, circus, and coffee houses. You will also see them at work and in street scenes. Portraits and figures from the Bible and legends are part of the collection.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin develops two to three solo or thematic exhibitions each year. It also regularly participates in exhibitions in other museums. The exhibitions also shed light on Hegenbarth’s life and work. They span the k. u. k. Monarchy, the Weimar Republic, National Socialism, and the post-war period in East and West Germany.
The exhibition program includes artists from Hegenbarth’s time and contemporary artists. The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin has hosted several exhibitions. These include “Überflogenes Weiß,” featuring works by Corinne Laroche and Heinz Handschick. Another exhibition, “Der östliche Hegenbarth,” combined Chinese ink paintings with Hegenbarth’s brush drawings.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin also lends works to other museums and institutions. These include the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig and the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin offers a diverse event program. Performances, lectures, and workshops are regularly held. The series “Bilderkarussell” focuses on the intersection of text and image in printed media.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin participates in various events. These include the International Museum Day and the Long Night of the Museums. They also take part in the Weekend of Graphics and the International Literature Festival Berlin.
A study room is available for viewing selected originals by appointment. It holds a comprehensive library. This library includes almost all books illustrated by Josef Hegenbarth, often in various editions. Monographs, exhibition catalogs, and art books are also available.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin publishes books and literary works related to its exhibitions. These include illustrated volumes for the Nibelungenlied and works by Hauff, the Brothers Grimm, and Schiller. The collection maintains the online catalog of Josef Hegenbarth’s drawings.
The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin offers a comprehensive view of Hegenbarth’s drawings. It combines his diverse techniques of graphic creation. Hegenbarth linked reality and abstraction in one expressive line. The Hegenbarth Sammlung Berlin presents a broad cross-section of the artist’s work. It depicts the manifestation of life in portraits and everyday scenes. A visit here is a journey through art history.