Focus Franz West | Heidi HORTENCOLLECTION

EXPERIMENT EXPRESSIONISM

Experiment Expressionism - Schiele meets Nosferatu is a comprehensive, cross-genre exhibition on Expressionism. Important works from the Heidi Horten Collection act as a starting point of the exhibition that is curated by Agnes Husslein-Arco, Rolf H. Johannsen and Roland Fischer-Briand. In particular works by the Expressionist painters Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde and Max Pechstein, among others. These artists are shown in context with works by Austrian Expressionist painters like Herbert Boeckl, Helene Funke, Oskar Kokoschka, Max Oppenheimer, Egon Schiele, Helene von Taussig and others.

April 11 to August 31, 2025

EXHIBITION

Experiment Expressionism

Schiele meets Nosferatu

Poster Design for “Nosferatu” by Albin Grau, 1922

This image shows a design for a movie poster for the silent film Nosferatu.

In the center, there is a large black figure. It has a hunched back, long arms, and is walking with big steps from left to right. The figure is painted almost completely in black.

The background has blue and green colors. The sky is dark blue, the ground is turquoise. Across the image, the word NOSFERATU is written in white letters.

At the bottom right, there is a crescent moon and rats jumping.

Along the lower edge, handwritten text says in german:
“Poster for Leipziger-Platz. Film Nosferatu. Design by Grau”

In this painting, Egon Schiele painted himself. He is wearing a special vest that looks like it has peacock feathers on it. His face looks serious and proud. His hair is wild and sticks up. His long fingers are painted in a strong way. The background is dark, but around his head is a light shape, like a halo. Schiele looks straight at us – almost like he is judging us. The colors on his face and hands are strange – red, green, blue.

Egon Schiele, Selbstporträt mit Pfauenweste, 1911 © Ernst Ploil, Wien

Albin Grau, Nosferatu, 1922 © Kantonsbibliothek Appenzell Ausserrhoden, CMO, Trogen (CH)

Anonym, Alexander Granach als Häusermakler Knock in "Nosferatu", 1922 © Kantonsbibliothek Appenzell Ausserrhoden, CMO, Trogen (CH)

Experiment Expressionism - Schiele meets Nosferatu is a comprehensive, cross-genre exhibition on Expressionism. Important works from the Heidi Horten Collection act as a starting point of the exhibition that is curated by Agnes Husslein-Arco, Rolf H. Johannsen and Roland Fischer-Briand. In particular works by the Expressionist painters Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde and Max Pechstein, among others. These artists are shown in context with works by Austrian Expressionist painters like Herbert Boeckl, Helene Funke, Oskar Kokoschka, Max Oppenheimer, Egon Schiele, Helene von Taussig and others.

The photo shows the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism. Schiele meets Nosferatu” at the Heidi Horten Collection.

At the front, there is a big wall in blue and white.
On the wall, there is large writing: “Experiment Expressionism – Schiele meets Nosferatu”.
In the center, there is a small painting by Egon Schiele – a self-portrait.
Next to it, there is a small picture from the old film “Nosferatu”.
Below, there is a long text about the exhibition.

Behind the wall, you can see more colorful paintings on white walls.
The room is bright and open.
The ceiling is white, and the floor is brown.
The exhibition looks modern, clear, and well organized.

The photo shows a doorway in the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism. Schiele meets Nosferatu”.
In the room behind the doorway, there is a large glowing image of the machine figure from the film “Metropolis” (1927).

On the left and right sides of the doorway, there are two portraits in golden frames:
On the left is a sharp-edged, serious portrait of a woman.
On the right is a smaller, more loosely painted portrait with a blue-green background and a yellow hat – this is the self-portrait of Herbert Boeckl.

In the background on the right, a pink neon heart is glowing on the wall.

The photo shows a bright room in the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism.”
There are many paintings hanging on the white walls.
The pictures show women and men – some look calm, others are moving or appear strong.

On the far right, you see a long, narrow painting of a woman.
The painting is by Egon Schiele.

On the left wall, there are three portraits hanging next to each other.
In the middle of the room, you see more paintings, for example the picture “Terzetta”, with the woman and the long hands.
The floor is brown, and the ceiling is bright.

The photo shows a room from the “Experiment Expressionism” exhibition.
The room is bright, with white-painted walls and a brown wooden floor.

Six paintings hang on the walls.
The paintings show people in motion, naked bodies, strong colors and special poses - typical of Expressionism.

On the far left, you see a photo projected onto a wall.
It shows the actor Conrad Veidt in black and white.
He is raising his hands and looks serious.

To the right of it, there are four paintings:

– The first one on the left shows several people. In the center, a woman sits in an orange dress.
– The second one shows three women.
– The third one shows people from the story Decameron.
– The fourth is the painting “Terzetta”, with the woman raising her long, dark hands.

The colors in all the paintings are strong and bright.

The photo shows a part of the exhibition “Experiment Expressionism.”

On the left, there is a painting by Lilly Steiner.
It shows Lilian Gärtner with big blue eyes and a grey dress.
She is sitting and holding her hands in a special, expressive way.
This painting was already described earlier.

On the right, you see a film scene from “Nosferatu.”
The film is black and white and is projected onto the wall.
You can see the vampire Nosferatu standing on a ship.
He is on the deck and looks scary.

11.04.-31.08.2025

Buy Tickets now

In addition to visual arts, painting and sculpture, the exhibition also focuses on silent film - the new, if not leading medium of the time - which is illustrated in the exhibition with posters, film stills and excerpts from classics such as Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari or Nosferatu – eine Symphonie des Grauens, but also films less familiar to the general public such as Orlac's Hände or Der müde Tod.

During the exhibition, the museum offers an evening program presenting silent films that will be shown for the first time in long version, accompanied by live music.

By clicking on the Play-Button you consent that data is transmitted to YouTube.