The Art Gallery on the south side of the Friedrichsplatzes contains one of the most
important 19th and 20th century collections of paintings and
sculptures, the main focus being France and Germany. The building,
made of red sandstone, was designed by Hermann Billing in the art
nouveau style as an exhibition building for the 300 year
anniversary of the city in 1907. Because a museum building was
planned as an extension to the Art Gallery on the Friedrichsplatz,
it was set back and therefore the impressive portal construction is
on the south side. The extension to the building was completed in
1983.
On the Friedrichsplatz: 'Lion and Tiger' at the entrance, bronze
sculptures by Harth and 'Two Friends' by Marcks (1936), 'Standing
Girl' by Kolbe (1915). 'Rosy Dawn' by Scheibe (1937) and 'Tectonic'
by Lipsi (1958) can be found on the broad area of lawn surrounding
the new building, as can Wilfried Hagebölling's ''Piece of Ground'
(1980), Alf Lechner's 'Distortion 15' (1971), Christoph Freimann's
'Great Bow 11' (1987) and Erwin Wortelkamp's 'Maybe a Tree VIP'
(1976).
The work of the directors Fritz Wichert (1909-23), Gustav
Friedrich Hartlaub (1923-33), Walter Passarge (1936-58), Heinz
Fuchs (1959-83) and Manfred Fath (since 1983) firmly rooted the Art
Gallery in the public life of the city and it has remained a centre
for modern art through its focus on the last two centuries, as well
as its fortunate purchasing policy and range of special
exhibitions.
The 20th century collection suffered irrecoverable loss when 86
paintings, 8 sculptures and 491 drawings and prints were
confiscated as 'entartete Kunst' (= degenerate art) in 1937 and
either sold abroad or burnt.
A series of talks and lectures are held in the lecture hall from
October to March. In the middle of the entrance hall, on a plinth
of stone, stands the 'Big Fish' by Brancusi (1928/57), an abstract
work of art made of polished bronze.
The forum with great works of art is very impressive: Moore,
'Warrior' (1953/54) and 'Reclining Figure' (1951), Marini, 'The
Rider Miracolo' (1953), Laurens, 'Siren' (1945), Hans Arp, 'Torso'
(1957, a loan), Matisse, 'Female Nude Back IV' (1929), Gabo,
'Linear Composition in Room No. 4' (1957/58) and 'Le Capricorne'
(1964) by Max Ernst.
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