Whether dramatically staged or soberly portrayed, whether executed in great detail or roughly sketched: murders in all their facets have been the subject of art for centuries.
We encounter them in depictions of ancient myths, biblical stories and historical events as well as in contemporary imagery. The fascination for such works lies in their emotionality and the attempt to give expression to the incomprehensible and shocking. 22 works, including paintings, prints and sculptures, were selected from the collection, covering the period from the 16th century to the present day. They tell different stories of the innocent and the guilty, of cold-blooded deeds and tragic fates.
The works provide an opportunity to scrutinise our own view of such deeds and how they are portrayed. At the same time, they reveal a great deal about how society deals with murders: In some works, the violence is glorified, in others it is justified on religious or political grounds, and in still others structural problems become visible. After all, murders in art are always a reflection of their time. (Source: Kunstpalast)
Exhibition period: 4 November 2025 to 3 May 2026
