Collection
Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection
Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection is a collection in Potsdam, Germany.
About Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection
Overview
The Museum Barberini is an art museum located in Potsdam, Germany, dedicated primarily to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. It houses the permanent exhibition 'Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection,' which features 115 works, including 40 paintings by Claude Monet. The museum was established in 2017 within the reconstructed Palast Barberini on the Alter Markt. Its mission is to present a diverse program of temporary exhibitions ranging from Old Masters to contemporary art, alongside educational activities and digital offerings like the Barberini App.
History & Founding
The museum was founded by Hasso Plattner, a German entrepreneur and philanthropist, who opened the institution in 2017. The project was driven by Plattner's desire to make his significant private collection of Impressionist art accessible to the public in his hometown of Potsdam. The museum operates under the Museen der Hasso Plattner Foundation gGmbH. Since its opening, the museum has hosted major temporary exhibitions in cooperation with international institutions such as the State Hermitage, the Musée d'Orsay, and the National Gallery of Art, featuring works by artists like Rodin, Edvard Munch, and Max Liebermann.
Building & Architecture
The museum is housed in the Palast Barberini, a building originally constructed between 1771 and 1772 for King Frederick II of Prussia. The original structure was modeled after the Palazzo Barberini in Rome, designed by Carlo Fontana, and served as a representative townhouse on the Alter Markt. The building was largely destroyed during an air raid on April 14, 1945, and the ruins were demolished in the following years. The current museum building is a reconstruction of the original façade and structure, completed as part of the redevelopment of Potsdam's historic center, serving as a 'lead building' for the restoration of the square.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The core of the museum's permanent collection is the Hasso Plattner Collection, comprising 115 works with a focus on French Impressionism. The collection includes 40 paintings by Claude Monet, such as 'Weizenfeld' (1881), 'Der kugelförmige Baum in Argenteuil' (1876), and 'Die Rosensträucher im Garten von Montgeron' (1876). Other significant holdings feature works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Gustave Caillebotte, and Berthe Morisot. The collection also extends to Post-Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism with pieces by Paul Cézanne, Henri-Edmond Cross, and Paul Signac, as well as Fauvist works by Raoul Dufy and Maurice de Vlaminck.
Significance
The Museum Barberini holds significant cultural importance as one of the few museums in Germany dedicated to Impressionism and as a major venue for international art exhibitions in the former East Germany. It serves as a bridge between private collecting and public access, showcasing a world-class collection that was previously held privately. The museum's programming, which includes academic conferences and shifting 'art histories' displays, aims to contextualize the works within broader art historical narratives. Its location in the reconstructed Palast Barberini also symbolizes the restoration of Potsdam's historic identity and the city's cultural renaissance.
Plan your visit
Impressionism: The Hasso Plattner Collection
- Website
- sammlung.museum-barberini.de
- Part of
- Museum Barberini