© dpa
Weekend Tips: What to Do This Weekend in Berlin
October 9 to 11, 2026: Events, festivals, exhibitions and more things to do for your perfect weekend in Berlin. more
Escaping the Tumultuous World on Tranquil Rivers
Fishermen and Lonely Boats in Chinese Painting
Jin Junming (1602 – 1675), Boot auf dem See, Detail, Qing-Dynastie (1644 – 1911), datiert 1675, Albumblatt – Schwarz-weiße Zeichnung einer Landschaft mit Bergen, kahlen Bäumen und einem Boot auf einem Fluss. Eine Person im Boot. Minimalistische Darstellung.
© Fotonachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Wu Jingting (1904 – 1972), Maler; Luo Fukan (1872 – 1955), Kalligraph, Freuden der Fischer am Fluß und Schnee über dem Fluß, datiert 1948, Fächerblatt montiert als Albumblatt – Fächerförmiges Aquarell und Tuschemalerei auf Papier, zeigt Landschaft mit Bergen, Fluss und Boot. Chinesische Schriftzeichen sind auf beiden Seiten sichtbar.
© Fotonachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Tang Di (1296 – 1364) zugeschrieben, Flusslandschaft, Detail, Yuan-Dynastie (1271 – 1368), montiert als Hängerolle – Gemälde auf Seide, bergige Landschaft mit Fluss; Boot mit Dach und vier sitzenden Personen; Baum mit blättrigem Geäst im Vordergrund.
© Fotonachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Hongren (1610 – 1663), Fischer in Landschaften, Qing-Dynastie (1644 – 1911), Kolophon datiert 1660, Albumblatt Nr. 2 – Zwei Blätter auf einem Hintergrund. Links schwarze Kalligraphie auf beigem Papier, rechts Tuschezeichnung von Felsen und Büschen auf beigem Papier.
© Fotonachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
Wang Chen (1720 – 1797), Maler, Wang Wenzhi (1730 – 1802), Autor der Nachschrift, Sonnenuntergang über dem Fischerdorf, Detail, Qing-Dynastie (1644 – 1911), Albumblatt – Tuschemalerei zeigt ein Dorf mit Häusern und Bäumen umgeben von Bergen. Mehrere Boote mit Personen auf einem Fluss im Vordergrund.
© Fotonachweis: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Museum für Asiatische Kunst
To mark the 120th anniversary of the East Asian Art Collection – which has weathered many turbulent times throughout its history – this exhibition presents the figure of the fisherman: he embodies, among others, the idea of escaping from the life of a civil servant in a world torn apart by conflicts and inter-dynastic wars.
A highly symbolic motif in Chinese painting, the fisherman remains nameless, symbolises resilience and is typically depicted amidst an idyllic landscape. Although these landscapes appear peaceful, they are also representations of withdrawal from tumultuous, stressful, and dangerous environments. While an empty boat with a loose rope is freedom and independence to some, it may also act as a reminder of flight from a place one once called home.
Curator
The exhibition is curated by Birgitta Augustin.
A temporary presentation by the Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in the Humboldt Forum, Room 319, “Artists and Connoisseurs”
A highly symbolic motif in Chinese painting, the fisherman remains nameless, symbolises resilience and is typically depicted amidst an idyllic landscape. Although these landscapes appear peaceful, they are also representations of withdrawal from tumultuous, stressful, and dangerous environments. While an empty boat with a loose rope is freedom and independence to some, it may also act as a reminder of flight from a place one once called home.
Curator
The exhibition is curated by Birgitta Augustin.
A temporary presentation by the Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in the Humboldt Forum, Room 319, “Artists and Connoisseurs”
Runtime: Wed, 30/09/2026 to Mon, 29/03/2027
Price info: Exhibition ticket regular 9 EUR each:
- BERLIN GLOBAL, first floor
- Ethnological Collections and Asian Art, including temporary exhibitions on the 2nd and 3rd floors
You can purchase this ticket online or at the ticket office.
All information regarding free admission and discounts can be found here.
Free admission for:
- Insights. The Humboldt Brothers
- Castle Cellars
- Sculpture Hall
- Video Panorama
- On Water: WasserWissen in Berlin
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
- BERLIN GLOBAL, first floor
- Ethnological Collections and Asian Art, including temporary exhibitions on the 2nd and 3rd floors
You can purchase this ticket online or at the ticket office.
All information regarding free admission and discounts can be found here.
Free admission for:
- Insights. The Humboldt Brothers
- Castle Cellars
- Sculpture Hall
- Video Panorama
- On Water: WasserWissen in Berlin
Reduced price info: Admission remains free of charge for children and young people up to the age of 19, persons accompanying a severely disabled person (provided this is noted as B on the severely disabled person’s pass), persons receiving transfer payments and Berlin-Ticket-S-holders. Admission is also free of charge for Members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the German Museums Association and the Federal Association for Museum Education.
Takes place here:
The help page for the event calendar answers common questions.. Information about coperations and imprint can be found on our page about partners and terms and conditions.