The exhibition Das alles bin ich (I Am All That!) presents the generous gift of some 200 works that art collector Christoph Müller has made to the Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings). The works on paper – drawings, prints and watercolors – not only show a broad panorama of visual themes spanning five centuries, but also reflect the influences on the collector and his interests. One aspect of the collection at a time will be featured in four successive presentations. The presentation beginning on 26 August 2025 focusses on people, interpersonal relationships and encounters.
Portraits and plant studies, harbors and history paintings, landscapes and genre scenes: This exhibition shows the entire spectrum of an extraordinary collection. A fascinating cross-section of European art history unfolds within works from early modern history to the present. The exhibited works on paper originate from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and France – telling of people and nature, history and everyday life, beliefs, feelings and the power to create. Representations of figures and nudes are on view, as well as seascapes, nature studies, animals, forests and quite a lot more.
Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (1726-1798) after Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678), Boy Leaning over a Lower Door, detail, 1763, © Christoph Müller Stiftung / Kilian Beutel
Encounters
The second presentation, Encounters, focuses on depictions of people and interpersonal relationships. Some of the featured artworks show moments of togetherness, such as social events, mutual exchange, or shared glances. The images depict romantic liaisons, domestic scenes, and social interactions, and reflect the personality of a tireless collector who nurtured numerous friendships and loved parties. These are juxtaposed with portraits, figurative representations, and detailed studies that center the individual. Whether pictured in silent contemplation or facing the viewer, these subjects are a testament to the reality that human existence is constantly oscillating between proximity and seclusion, between moments of shared experience and periods of solitude.
Curator: Claudia Lojack