The Gemaldegalerie (04:03)

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The Gemaldegalerie, or Painting Museum, is located in the museum complex of the Kulturforum, open since 1998. It is one of the most important painting museums in the world, both in its size and in the quality of its collections. It contains works from the 14th to 18th centuries by many famous Renaissance painters, including Giotto, Botticelli, Cranach and Rubens.

The End of the Gothic Era (02:57)

As the Middle Ages ended and the Renaissance began, Flemish artists traveled greatly in order to learn the new techniques of the Italian masters, the militarists in particular. They were among the first to introduce Renaissance techniques into Northern Europe.

The Renaissance: A Time of Great Change (05:29)

The Renaissance was a time of great change in Europe, with a renewed interest in the arts and sciences. This led to new and innovative ways of thinking and painting, as seen in the works of artists like van der Goes, Lippi, Botticelli, and Bellini.

Albrecht Durer's Influence (03:02)

The Early Renaissance painters of Venice, including Giovanni Bellini and Albrecht Durer, were contemporaries of the German Renaissance painter, Lucas Cranach.

German and Dutch Art (02:32)

The German and Dutch rooms in the museum present an overview of the art of the Renaissance. The German room features the work of Lucas Cranach the Elder, who was known for his Gothic style, and the Dutch room features the work of Peter Paul Rubens, who was known for his Baroque style.

Rubens: The Homer of Painting (04:49)

Nicknamed the Homer of Painting, Rubens represented the quintessence of Baroque art with his gigantic mythological paintings that ally color, movement, and expressive power.

The Romantic Painters (04:31)

The romantic painters were interested in the emotional and spiritual aspects of life, and they often depicted scenes from nature.

Naturalism and Neoclassicism (04:24)

The ages of man symbolized by the cycle of the seasons was an allegory that was dear to naturalism or neoclassicism, which advocated introspection.

Impressionism (04:22)

When Claude Monet exhibited a work showing his wife, Camille, and one of his many children, Jean, in 1876, the Impressionists were still thought of as pariahs. In this painting, the figures do not have any more presence than the trees, which gives the painting a great feeling of poetry.

The Secession (03:51)

The Secession was a group of German artists who broke away from the Academy of Arts in Berlin in order to pursue a more expressive and modern form of art. The Secessionists were heavily influenced by the impressionists, and their work is characterized by bright colors and expressive brushstrokes. Many of the Secessionists were persecuted by the Nazis and had to flee the country.

Art of Raoul Dufy (05:35)

Raoul Dufy was guided by impressionist painters. He later developed his own unique style. He was heavily influenced by the works of the 19th century, as well as the surrealists.

Continuing the Exploration (05:27)

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Berlin is home to a large collection of paintings by some of the world's most famous artists. These paintings explore a variety of different themes and styles, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of painting.

Credits (01:20)

Credits