When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition begins on 13.09.2026 at 10:00 am and runs until 08.11.2026.

Where can the exhibition be seen?

At the Kunsthalle Mannheim at Friedrichsplatz 4, 68165 Mannheim.

What is the entrance fee?

The regular admission fee to the Kunsthalle Mannheim is 16 euros. Discounts or free admission apply for certain groups.

Are there public tours?

Yes, the Kunsthalle Mannheim offers public tours. Prices for the accompanying program start at 6 euros.

Is the museum accessible?

The Kunsthalle Mannheim provides information on its visit page about accessibility, transportation, and other practical tips.

Can I take photos in the exhibition?

For commercial or editorial photo, video, and audio recordings, written permission from the Kunsthalle Mannheim is required.

Printmaking from Dürer to Piranesi: Mannheim Shows Collection Treasures Full of Spirit

Name: From Dürer to Piranesi – Printmaking from the Mannheim Collection Anton von Klein (1746 – 1810)
Start: 2026-09-13T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-11-08T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Kunsthalle Mannheim

Graphism as a Knowledge Space: Rediscovering Anton von Klein's Collection

The Kunsthalle Mannheim opens a window to the fascinating world of printmaking with “From Dürer to Piranesi”. The exhibition takes visitors to an era where engraving, etching, and drawing were not only art forms but also media of enlightenment. At the center is the Mannheim collection of scholar and professor Anton von Klein, whose graphic compilation has belonged to the Kunsthalle since 1922.

Between Renaissance and Rococo

About 80 sheets span a broad arc from the German Renaissance through the Dutch and Flemish schools to France, England, and Italy. Works by Albrecht Dürer, Hendrick Goltzius, Bernhard Rode, and Giovanni Battista Piranesi open a polyphonic panorama of European visual culture. Especially in the study of the works, it becomes apparent how printmaking organizes knowledge, condenses feelings, and imaginatively expands spaces.

A Collector as a Mediator of Enlightenment

Anton von Klein served as a professor for the “fine sciences” at the court of Elector Karl Theodor. His collection was not only for possession but for education: images were meant to sharpen thoughts and make connections visible. This curatorial idea remains relevant today, as it understands the museum as a place of aesthetic experience and cultural education.

Masterpieces in Finest Lines

The exhibition directs attention to the silent power of printmaking. Lines, hatching, and contrasts unfold an astonishing spatial effect that is particularly intense in the original. Those who engage with the sheets discover not only technical precision but also narrative density, iconographic diversity, and art historical transitions between epochs and styles.

Knowledge, Seeing, Comparing

As the beginning of an exhibition series, the presentation makes visible how collections can be read: as archives of ideas, taste, and educational aspirations. The curatorial approach combines scientific accuracy with sensual accessibility. Thus, an art experience is created that not only informs but also hones perception and deepens individual observation.

Conclusion

“From Dürer to Piranesi” is an invitation to reconsider printmaking: as an art form full of spirit, precision, and historical depth. Those who wish to not just read but see and feel art history should definitely experience this exhibition live at the Kunsthalle Mannheim.