Visiting the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich
Located in the heart of the Kunstareal (Arts District), the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich is one of three major pinakotheks in the city. The others include the Alte Pinakothek, which houses German and European art from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, and the Neue Pinakothek, which covers work from the classical period through the great impressionists like Van Gogh, Manet, and Cézanne. The collections at the Pinakothek der Moderne are unique in that they bring together four distinct disciplines under one roof: modern and contemporary art, design, architecture, and graphic arts.
A museum dedicated to 20th and 21st century art
When it comes to painting, the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich showcases five major movements from the 20th and 21st centuries: expressionism, cubism, pop art, fauvism, and surrealism. For German art, a significant portion of the collection is dedicated to the expressionist group Die Brücke (The Bridge), which was founded in Dresden in 1905. Their work favors immediacy and the painter's subjective perspective, and many pieces carry a strong sense of social critique.
Modern art in all its forms
The other wings of the museum focus on major artistic movements that reshaped society over the last century. The design section features early examples of computer and automotive design, along with a wide range of furniture, jewelry, textiles, and footwear made possible by industrial growth since the 19th century. The architecture collection contains approximately 500,000 drawings and plans from hundreds of architects, as well as a large number of scale models. Finally, the graphic arts section holds about 350,000 prints dating back to the 15th century, 45,000 drawings, and significant works from the fields of new media and technology.
With its rotunda and glass roof, the building is quite impressive. It houses four museums dedicated to painting, architecture, graphic arts, and design. I only visited the painting collections, which are very rich with works by Picasso, Matisse, and even Magritte, as well as the design section, which notably features some splendid Bauhaus furniture. It is hard to see everything in one afternoon. I recommend getting there early on Sunday to avoid the line.