14. Sep. 2024 –
02. Feb. 2025
Hans Thoma
An artist as the director of a museum
The Museum is closed for extensive renovation work.
During this time, exhibitions at ZKM | Center for Art and Media and at Junge Kunsthalle take place.
Hans Thoma was not only a well-known artist, but for over 20 years also was director of the Kunsthalle.
In 1899, Hans Thoma was appointed director of the Grand Ducal art gallery in Karlsruhe by the Grand Duke of Baden. By this time, he had already made his mark as an artist and enjoyed national renown and recognition. He held the position of museum director until 1919 and is still associated with the museum today.
In the year of the 100th anniversary of his death, the studio exhibition “Hans Thoma – painter and museum director” explores the question of how Hans Thoma performed as director: What acquisitions did he make during his time in office? What understanding of art guided him? How much independence did he have in making decisions at the Kunsthalle?
The studio exhibition shows a selection of representative acquisitions, including important works from the collection from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including works by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Anselm Feuerbach, Wilhelm Leibl and Wilhelm Trübner. Part of the collection’s presentation is dedicated to Thomas’ own artistic work.
