When can the exhibition be seen?

The exhibition runs from May 23, 2026, to October 18, 2026, at the Edwin Scharff Museum in Neu-Ulm.

How much is the entry?

For this date on Wednesday, entry to the museum is free.

Are there tours of the exhibition?

Yes, there are tours and literary walks included in the accompanying program. Advanced registration is required for some dates.

Is the museum barrier-free?

Yes, access is barrier-free. All rooms and floors are reachable by elevator, and there is also a tactile overview map at the ticket desk.

How can I get there by public transport?

The museum is located near the Neu-Ulm train station. Lines 5 and 7 run to Petrusplatz or Schützenstraße.

Is photography allowed?

Information regarding photography permission will follow. Please observe the museum's on-site instructions.

Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love

Name: Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love
Start: 2026-08-05T02:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-19T01:59:59+02:00
Location: Edwin Scharff Museum / Kunstmuseum

Ernst Barlach in Neu-Ulm: An exhibition about the many faces of love

At the Edwin Scharff Museum, visitors will encounter an exhibition from May 23, 2026, that presents Ernst Barlach as a sensitive observer of human emotions. Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love places love not as simple romance, but as an existential force at its center – encompassing longing, empathy, maternal love, grief, and unconditional closeness.

Barlach between sculpture, drawing, and literature

Ernst Barlach (1870–1938) is one of the defining sculptors and draftsmen of modernity. His plastic and graphic works condense psychological tension into clear, often silent forms. This very condensation makes the exhibition so appealing: It shows Barlach not only as a sculptor but also as an author, whose language and imagery reflect each other.

Selected exhibits and poetic texts open a art-historically precise perspective on themes that run through Barlach's work. The curatorial approach emphasizes the exploration of artwork, atmosphere, and intellectual depth. This creates an art experience that connects emotion and form, intimacy and expression, body and spirit.

Love as a universal motif of modernity

The exhibition makes visible how broadly Barlach understood the concept of love. In addition to the motif of the loving couple, temptation, neighborly love, and loss also emerge. Juxtaposing works by Edwin Scharff sharpens the view for the artistic similarities and differences between the two contemporaries. It is this dialogical hanging that strengthens the aesthetic experience in the room.

Especially impressive are the works in which Barlach formulates human closeness not sentimentally, but concentrated and authentically. The plastic presence, graphic reduction, and poetic language of the presentation create a calm yet intense exhibition atmosphere.

Education, tours, and cultural offerings

The exhibition includes a supporting program with tours, literary walks, and workshops. The offerings are aimed at art enthusiasts who appreciate both art historical context and cultural education. In particular, the literary walk with word and sound emphasizes Barlach's dual role as artist and writer.

The Edwin Scharff Museum sees itself as a place of cultural education and offers barrier-free access, media stations, and museum educational formats for various target groups. This ensures that the visit is not only informative but also inclusive and contemporary.

Conclusion

Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love is an exhibition for all who wish to experience art as a mirror of human experience. Those who engage with Barlach's works will discover a quiet, moving, and highly relevant visual language. A visit to the Edwin Scharff Museum is particularly worthwhile for visitors seeking art with depth, proximity, and intellectual clarity.