Discover the extensive holdings of three different collections in the Folkwang Museum, an institution in Essen dedicated to art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum had its beginnings in 1922 after the merger of the Essener Kunstmuseum (Essen Municipal Art Museum) and the private collection of Karl Ernst Osthaus. Within the museum, find the matchless Deutsches Plakat Museum (German Poster Museum).
Explore the spacious galleries, which display rotating exhibitions of the museum’s permanent collection. Among the works on display are internationally significant pieces by German and French artists from the 19th century. Peruse pieces from the German romanticist, cubist and impressionist movements, including artworks by Caspar David Friedrich, Édouard Manet, Pierre Renoir, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Paul Gauguin. The museum’s collection earned it the ire of the Nazis in the 1920s and 1930s, when the party aimed to rid the country of so-called “degenerate art” and over 1,400 artworks were removed from the museum’s collection.
Check out the museum’s photography collection, which contains some 60,000 photographic items. The German Poster Museum within Folkwang contains more than 350,000 political and cultural posters from throughout German history. Peruse the titles at the museum bookshop or check out the documents held at the museum’s library. The museum has a café, as well as a restaurant with outdoor seating.
As you explore the museum, notice its revitalized architecture. Admire the elegant reconstruction of the museum building by architect David Chipperfield. This part of the building was unveiled in conjunction with the Ruhr European Capital of Culture event in 2010.
Folkwang Museum is situated on Museumsplatz in downtown Essen’s Southern Quarter (Südviertel). It is easy to reach by subway and tram. If you are walking from the main railway station, follow the blue squares on the pavement to reach the Folkwang Museum in 15 minutes. Admission to the museum’s permanent collection is free however, the temporary exhibitions have an entrance fee. Book your English-language guided tour at the front desk for a fee. The museum is closed on Mondays and select public holidays.
