German Expressionism exhibition opens in Barcelona in first showing outside Germany

The Barcelona Diocesan Museum inaugurated the exhibition 'German Expressionism – Works from the Museumsberg Flensburg' on Thursday, featuring pieces displayed outside of Germany for the first time.

The exhibition brings together a selection of works by artists from the Die Brücke group, meaning 'bridge', founded in the early 20th century looking to transform art.  

"It's about the bridge to build from the historical artworks to the new artworks," said Madeleine Städtler, the deputy director and curator of the Museumsberg Flensburg. 

The artworks come from the Museumsberg Flensburg. "Our museum was the first museum with an exhibition for the Brücke group to be exhibited in Germany," Städtler said. 

The show invites visitors to connect with artists who broke away from traditional techniques, such as Kirchner, Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann, Kokoschka, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, among others.

Expressionism is about showing inner feelings through art, Städtler explained. 

German Expressionism was an art movement where artists often used bright colors, twisted shapes, and dramatic scenes to express emotions and perspectives rather than following traditional art styles.           

The exhibition features 43 graphic works, focused on the connection between artistic expression and spirituality, and two oil paintings by Erich Heckel, founding member of the group, showing the artist's development over time.

"We are at the Cathedral Museum and so there is a big connection with the spiritual and religious art," Städtler said.

Most of the art pieces were donated in 2024 by the late actor Rüdiger Wolff from his personal collection to his hometown, Flensburg.

The exhibition will be open from June 26th until October 5th.