Spot on Only Murders in the Museum
Only Murders in the Museum
Whether dramatically staged or soberly recounted, whether rendered in rich detail or suggested with broad strokes: murder, in all its facets, has been a subject of art for centuries. It appears in depictions of ancient myths, biblical stories and historical events as well as in contemporary imagery. The fascination with such works lies in their emotionality and the attempt to give expression to that which is shocking and incomprehensible.
From the museum’s collection, paintings, graphic arts and sculptures have been selected that cover the period from the sixteenth century to the present day. They tell distinct stories – of the innocent and the guilty, of cold-blooded acts and tragic fates. These works provide an opportunity to question one’s own view of such acts and their representation. Simultaneously, they reveal much about how society deals with homicide: in some pieces, violence is glorified, in others, it is justified through religion or politics and in others still, social problems become visible. For ultimately, depictions of murder in art serve as reflections of their time.
Curator: Hannah Steinmetz, Research Trainee Painting until 1900