Die Moderne im Zoo (Modernism at the Zoo)
29.06.2025 - 09.11.2025 ,
Franz Marc Museum
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Tigers, lions, parrots and monkeys... What role did zoological gardens play as a source of inspiration for modern art?
Around 1900, the zoo reflected the ambivalences of modernism more than almost any other place. Artists such as August Macke, Franz Marc and Renée Sintenis sought new artistic impulses in the zoo, far removed from academic traditions and close to a supposedly pristine nature. Zoological gardens were not only tourist attractions, but also central places of urban life. Here, the boundaries between nature and culture, wilderness and civilisation became blurred, which attracted modern artists in a special way. Moving animal bodies, exotic stagings and the emotional experience of the animal counterpart became a reflection of human desires and gave rise to questions about our own existence. At the same time, themes such as colonialism and animal ethics are addressed, which are also closely linked to the history of zoological gardens.
The exhibition is the first to explore this theme and presents more than 100 paintings, sculptures, prints, sketches and photographs by artists such as Franz Marc, August Gaul, Oskar Kokoschka, Paul Meyerheim, Renée Sintenis, Paul Klee and August Macke.
Last edited on 13.07.2026
