AKTE, ANTIKE, ANATOMIE. Zeichnend die Welt erschließen

In the organizer's words:

Drawing as a technique for exploring the world and imparting knowledge is the focus of a cross-institutional cooperation project developed by the Hamburger Kunsthalle (Kupferstichkabinett) with the University of Hamburg (Department of Art History) and the Hamburg State and University Library. In two parallel, complementary exhibitions under the joint title AKTE, ANTIKE, ANATOMIE. Drawing the World, the exhibition presents drawing learned at the academies and in artists' studios on the one hand and amateurish drawing practiced in private on the other.

In the Harzen Cabinet of the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the focus of the presentation with around 100 exhibits is on hand drawings from the 15th to 19th centuries, which show the potential of artistic-scientific drawing as an instrument for imparting knowledge and gaining insight. The visualization of new anatomical findings as well as the documentation of archaeological finds was left to trained artists, who not only recorded what they found in drawings, but also developed strategies for conveying visual information. In addition to anatomical drawings and engravings, the exhibition shows lavishly illustrated antiquarian works (Perrier: Segmenta nobilium, 1638) and early prints (Marco Dente da Ravenna: Laocoon, 1520/25). Selected depictions of learning situations in studios and academies are also on display.

Price information:

0-16 Euro