Exhibition: Germaine Krull in Focus

Until March 15, 2026, the Museum Folkwang in Essen is highlighting the work of the avant-garde photographer and author Germaine Krull in a comprehensive retrospective.

Above all, the German-Dutch photographer Germaine Krull (*1897 in Poznán (Wilda), Poland; † 1985 in Wetzlar, Germany) for her pioneering work photographic works from the 1920s and 1930s famous.

In the course of Retrospective "Germaine Krull: Chien Fou"* honors the Essen Museum Folkwang However, the artist is not "only" a protagonist of the photographic avant-garde, but also dedicates herself to her Activity as an authorAlongside her photographs, Krull also produced numerous autobiographical and autofictional texts, reportage, political accounts, and literary narratives in the late 1920s. The exhibition will feature these works. approximately 400 photographs, texts, documents and audiovisual materials presented from the rich estate that the Museum Folkwang has preserved since 1995.

*'Chien Fou' (meaning 'mad dog' in English) is Krull's alter ego and also the title of her first autofictional work from 1934. With this reference, the exhibition aims to highlight Krull as an independent voice in a turbulent century. 

Chronicler of a turbulent century

From her photographic Education in Munich in the 1910s up to their groundbreaking Photographs from the interwar period – the exhibition focuses on all Phases of Krull's photographic work, in addition detailed insights into her work as a text author and chronicler of the 20th century given.

By Krulls Texts and photographs placed in direct dialogue The show will make its self-understanding and self-awareness as Artist, thinker and woman visible. It becomes clearly evident how external circumstances – especially the Second World War – shaped the life and work of the artist, who ultimately made a conscious decision Turning away from Europe completed the move in order to find new homes in Thailand and India.

All further information about the exhibition can be found on the Museum Folkwang website.

Exhibition trailer

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About the exhibition and beyondGermaine Krull: Chien Fou
Author and photographer
March 15, 2026

Admission: 9 euros, reduced 5 euros
Click here to go to the ticket shop.

Address
Museum Folkwang
Museumsplatz 1
45128 Essen

Together with the university library is university Duisburg-Essen The museum presents a Open-access database ready, which makes all of Krull's digitized texts freely accessible. Click here to access the database.

The Publication "Germaine Krull. Chien Fou. Selected Texts"This book accompanies the exhibition. The approximately 320-page book combines photographs with numerous newly discovered texts by Krull in German, English, and French.

From the 22 May 2026 The exhibition in Wetzlar is a collaboration between the Wetzlar Municipal Museums and the Wetzlar Art Association to see.
Source: Museum FolkwangDHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!