At Eye Level

The Dr. Hans-Joachim and Elisabeth Bönsch Art Foundation holds an extensive and incredibly exciting collection of self-portraits, which are exemplarily showcased in the exhibition "At Eye Level: Artistic Self-Portraits of the Early 20th Century." The works selected for the exhibition not only provide insight into the Bönsch Foundation's collection but also reveal the various aspects of self- and external perception that can be interpreted from self-portraits.

The engagement with one's own self is a frequently negotiated and depicted phenomenon in visual art. The self-portrait represents one's own likeness and can show how we see ourselves. Furthermore, it can present how we think, what we feel, or who we aspire to be. It is simultaneously a playground, a statement, and a space for negotiation. The self-portrait can break artistic boundaries and set new ones. It can illustrate how much the conception of our own likeness is shaped by other people, influences, and circumstances.

Through self-portraits, artists reveal how they perceive themselves and communicate to the outside-world. The materials and techniques used, as well as the individual intent behind their display, have a tangible impact on how the likeness is artistically captured and represented. The life circumstances and external influences of the artists play a significant role in their self-reflection and self-depiction.

The exhibition "At Eye Level" offers a glimpse into these multifaceted perspectives. It invites visitors to encounter selected artists of the early 20th century, including Käthe Kollwitz, Ludwig Meidner, Max Slevogt, Lovis Corinth, Max Liebermann, and Martel Schwichtenberg, during their creative processes.

Contemporary interventions by various artists, which introduce and accompany the exhibition, can be understood as an invitation to approach the fascinating and perpetually relevant topic of self-portraiture in a new way and to broaden the perspective on self-representation.