Hamburg’s Kunsthalle

Kunsthalle, Hamburg, GermanyWhen you’re in Hamburg, Germany, there is lots to do. One of the visits you probably want to make is to visit the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Hamburg Art Museum. It first opened to the public back in 1869.

You can read about opening days and times, its collection and exhibitions here at its website.

Since we were travelling with kids, we loved the Family Card, allowing free entrance for children when accompanied by their parents (A plea to Italy: please think about the same policy! Museum visits are simply too expensive for families).

Kunsthalle, HamburgOne of the most famous paintings in the museum is the Wanderer above The Sea Fog (also known as Wanderer above The Mist), a painting by Caspar David Friedrich, painted in 1818.

This is a classic painting from the Romantic movement, and students of 19th century English literature have seen it grace the covers of countless novels.

Edvard Munch, Girls on the PierAnother famous Friedrich work on display is the dramatic ‘The Polar Sea’, depicting ice floes and a sinking ship.

There are other 19th century works by Courbet, Degas, Manet, Monet and Rodin. Among modern art are paintings by Munch, Klee, Kokoschka and Picasso.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Self-Portrait with ModelBe sure to seek out Edvard Munch’s Girls on the Pier (1900) and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s vibrant Self-Portrait with Model, painted in 1910 and retouched by the artist in 1926.

Definitely a museum worth a visit during your time in Hamburg.

For more tips on what to do in Hamburg, see my earlier posts on Climbing the Michaelis church bell tower, Relaxing in the Planten un Blomen Park, Climbing aboard the Rickmer Rickmers to see what life on a late 19th century merchant ship was like, taking a boat trip around the canals,  and Exploring HafenCity and the Dungeon.

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