When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition runs from 23.05.2026 to 04.10.2026 at the Edwin Scharff Museum in Neu-Ulm.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular museum admission is 6 euros. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Are there tours available through the exhibition?

Yes, tours and art historical walks are planned as part of the accompanying program. Details and dates will be published by the museum on its website.

Is the museum accessible?

Yes, the Edwin Scharff Museum has barrier-free access and is designed for visitors with different needs.

How do I get to the museum?

The museum is centrally located at Petrusplatz in Neu-Ulm, near the train station and easily reachable on foot or by public transportation.

Can I take photos in the exhibition?

Information about the photography policy will follow on the museum's website or at the ticket office.

Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love

Name: Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love
Start: 2026-05-23T20:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-04T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Edwin Scharff Museum / Kunstmuseum

Ernst Barlach: Love as a Great Human Experience at the Edwin Scharff Museum

The special exhibition Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love at the Edwin Scharff Museum in Neu-Ulm introduces the multifaceted work of an artist who, as a sculptor, draftsman, and author, is one of the defining voices of German modernism. The exhibition does not focus on the conventional love motif but on the range of human closeness, spanning from longing, temptation, and maternal love to grief, empathy, and charity.

An Artistic Experience Between Sculpture, Graphics, and Poetic Thinking

Barlach developed his visual language during a time of profound upheaval. His figures, lithographs, and sculptures combine expressionistic intensity with a quiet, almost contemplative language of form. This is precisely where the power of this exhibition lies: it presents love not as a sentimental subject but as an existential experience that makes humanity visible in its vulnerability and dignity.

Works, Themes, and Art Historical Depth

The exhibition gathers selected exhibits that trace Barlach's engagement with love in its various forms. This includes depictions of intimate couples as well as works that explore the tension between desire and insecurity, care and loss. Poetic texts accompany the viewing of the works and create a space where art, literature, and cultural education interpenetrate.

Particularly exciting is the juxtaposition of individual works with those of Edwin Scharff. This highlights the similarities and differences between two significant sculptors of modernity: here Barlach's emotionally charged, spiritually condensed world of figures, and there Scharff's classically bound language of form. For art-historically interested visitors, this creates an enlightening dialogue about body, expression, and concepts of humanity in the 20th century.

A Museum That Takes Art Education Seriously

The Edwin Scharff Museum presents its special exhibitions in a building that combines an art museum and a children's museum, understanding cultural education as part of the visitor experience. The art presentation is complemented by media stations, educational offerings, and guided tours. This creates an exhibition atmosphere that is both intellectually stimulating and sensually accessible.

The exhibition is also a collaboration with the Ernst Barlach Museums in Güstrow and is accompanied by curator Franziska Hell, M.A. This institutional anchoring strengthens the authority of the presentation and makes the exhibition a substantial contribution about an artist whose work remains present in museums, research, and exhibition practice to this day.

Why a Visit Is Worthwhile

Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love promises not just a retelling of art historical facts but an intense artistic experience. Those interested in expressionism, sculpture, graphics, and the question of how art makes human emotions visible will find a exhibition of remarkable depth. The combination of viewing works, poetic language, and museum educational access creates an aesthetic experience that resonates long after.

A visit is worthwhile for all who want to not only look at art but understand and feel it. This exhibition offers a quiet, poignant view of Ernst Barlach and invites you to rediscover love as an artistic, social, and human theme. A must-see live.