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Käthe Kollwitz and the theatre
“We haven’t seen ‘Penthesilea’ yet”
August Macke, Tänzer, 1914
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett, Foto: Jörg P. Anders
Ausstellungsansicht
© Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum Berlin
Ausstellungsansicht
© Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum Berlin
The Käthe Kollwitz Museum Berlin is opening a new perspective on the life and work of one of Germany's most important artists in the former theater building of Charlottenburg Palace: The special exhibition "Käthe Kollwitz and the Theater" focuses on a topic that has received little attention to date - the affinity of Käthe Kollwitz and her family for the theater.
Theater as part of everyday family life
Diary entries and letters to her son Hans document how visits to the theater were a natural part of the family's everyday life - just like political discussions and artistic work. Käthe Kollwitz and her family experienced the most fruitful period in Berlin's theater history at first hand and attended numerous innovative productions by the great directors of their time, including Otto Brahm, Max Reinhardt and Leopold Jessner. From the naturalism of the late 19th century to the expressionist theater of the 1920s, they followed stage events closely. Dance, concerts, film and cabaret were also part of this rich cultural cosmos.
Theater as a resonance chamber for artistic work
The exhibition examines the influence these intense visual experiences had on Käthe Kollwitz' artistic work. Although she did not work directly for the theater, her oeuvre reflects diverse references to literary material, scenic situations and dramatic condensations. The theater becomes visible less as a concrete motif than as an intellectual resonance chamber of her work.
Highlights of the exhibition
A large number of loans from public and private collections, newly discovered and digitized archive material as well as interdisciplinary perspectives make it clear how closely the Kollwitz family's life was interwoven with one of the most productive phases in Berlin's theater history. In addition to works by Käthe Kollwitz, works by Ernst Barlach, Lovis Corinth, Georg Kolbe, August Macke, Max Liebermann, Ernst Oppler and Emil Orlik are presented.
Extensive loans and research work
The exhibition comprises over 100 exhibits from 17 lenders, including the Alte Nationalgalerie SMB, Kupferstichkabinett SMB, Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, Ernst Barlach Haus Hamburg, John Neumeier Stiftung Hamburg, Kollwitz Museum Köln and Tanzarchiv und Theaterwissenschaftliche Sammlung Köln. It concludes three years of research by Kollwitz specialist Annette Seeler, which was carried out in collaboration with the museum.
Design and accompanying publication
The young Berlin design team Jason Kittner and Meret Schmiese are responsible for the architectural and graphic design of the exhibition. An accompanying catalog with over 200 illustrations and approx. 240 pages will be published by Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg, which will deepen the dialogue between visual and performing arts.
Promotion and support
The exhibition, the catalog and the educational program are made possible by the generous support of the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation, the Rudolf-August Oetker Foundation and the Richard Stury Foundation.
Educational offers for the special exhibitionFOR SCHOOL CLASSESSchool project dayfor the special exhibitionBookable from February 21 to May 3, 2026
FOR ADULTSSlow Art guided tour
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.Registration required.
FOR ADULTSGuided tours with guest curator Dr. Annette Seeler
Tuesday, March 31, April 14 and 28, 2026, 4 p.m.Participation is included in museum admission.No registration required.
FOR ADULTSGuided tour in German Sign Language (DGS)Sunday, April 12, 2026, 3:00 p.m.Participation is included in museum admission.Registration required:
Events related to the special exhibitionLecture by Dr. Norbert JaronMax Reinhardt and the theater of the early 20th centuryThursday, 12 March 2026, 19:00Admission €8.00 | reduced €5.00No registration required.Translated with DeepL
Theater as part of everyday family life
Diary entries and letters to her son Hans document how visits to the theater were a natural part of the family's everyday life - just like political discussions and artistic work. Käthe Kollwitz and her family experienced the most fruitful period in Berlin's theater history at first hand and attended numerous innovative productions by the great directors of their time, including Otto Brahm, Max Reinhardt and Leopold Jessner. From the naturalism of the late 19th century to the expressionist theater of the 1920s, they followed stage events closely. Dance, concerts, film and cabaret were also part of this rich cultural cosmos.
Theater as a resonance chamber for artistic work
The exhibition examines the influence these intense visual experiences had on Käthe Kollwitz' artistic work. Although she did not work directly for the theater, her oeuvre reflects diverse references to literary material, scenic situations and dramatic condensations. The theater becomes visible less as a concrete motif than as an intellectual resonance chamber of her work.
Highlights of the exhibition
A large number of loans from public and private collections, newly discovered and digitized archive material as well as interdisciplinary perspectives make it clear how closely the Kollwitz family's life was interwoven with one of the most productive phases in Berlin's theater history. In addition to works by Käthe Kollwitz, works by Ernst Barlach, Lovis Corinth, Georg Kolbe, August Macke, Max Liebermann, Ernst Oppler and Emil Orlik are presented.
Extensive loans and research work
The exhibition comprises over 100 exhibits from 17 lenders, including the Alte Nationalgalerie SMB, Kupferstichkabinett SMB, Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, Ernst Barlach Haus Hamburg, John Neumeier Stiftung Hamburg, Kollwitz Museum Köln and Tanzarchiv und Theaterwissenschaftliche Sammlung Köln. It concludes three years of research by Kollwitz specialist Annette Seeler, which was carried out in collaboration with the museum.
Design and accompanying publication
The young Berlin design team Jason Kittner and Meret Schmiese are responsible for the architectural and graphic design of the exhibition. An accompanying catalog with over 200 illustrations and approx. 240 pages will be published by Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg, which will deepen the dialogue between visual and performing arts.
Promotion and support
The exhibition, the catalog and the educational program are made possible by the generous support of the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation, the Rudolf-August Oetker Foundation and the Richard Stury Foundation.
Educational offers for the special exhibitionFOR SCHOOL CLASSESSchool project dayfor the special exhibitionBookable from February 21 to May 3, 2026
FOR ADULTSSlow Art guided tour
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m.Registration required.
FOR ADULTSGuided tours with guest curator Dr. Annette Seeler
Tuesday, March 31, April 14 and 28, 2026, 4 p.m.Participation is included in museum admission.No registration required.
FOR ADULTSGuided tour in German Sign Language (DGS)Sunday, April 12, 2026, 3:00 p.m.Participation is included in museum admission.Registration required:
Events related to the special exhibitionLecture by Dr. Norbert JaronMax Reinhardt and the theater of the early 20th centuryThursday, 12 March 2026, 19:00Admission €8.00 | reduced €5.00No registration required.Translated with DeepL
Runtime: Sat, 21/02/2026 to Sun, 03/05/2026
Price info: The following are entitledto free admission upon presentation of the appropriate proof Children and young people under the age of 18, holders of a proof of eligibility (former berlinpass), members of the Berlin City Guide Association, representatives of the press, members of ICOM
Price: €10.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: The following are entitledto reduced admission upon presentation of appropriate proof: Pupils aged 18 and over, students and trainees, federal volunteers, groups of 12 or more, members of the Museumsbund, members of the Bundesverband, Bildender Künstler, members of the Verband deutscher Kunsthistoriker, members of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, members of the Kulturvolk Berlin, holders of a severely disabled pass, holders of the artCard, holders of the Berliner Ehrenamtskarte
Price: €10.00
Reduced price: €7.00
Reduced price info: The following are entitledto reduced admission upon presentation of appropriate proof: Pupils aged 18 and over, students and trainees, federal volunteers, groups of 12 or more, members of the Museumsbund, members of the Bundesverband, Bildender Künstler, members of the Verband deutscher Kunsthistoriker, members of the Theatergemeinde Berlin, members of the Kulturvolk Berlin, holders of a severely disabled pass, holders of the artCard, holders of the Berliner Ehrenamtskarte
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