By Jinny U., Grade 9
Munich, the capital city of the state of Bavaria, is not only known for beer, technology, and Oktoberfest but also filled with art lovers. There are currently more than 800 museums in Munich and the following three museums will guide you to your match.
- Alte Pinakothek
As soon as you enter the Alte (=Old in German) Pinakothek (=museum in German), you can smell the dust laying down on to the passage to the old ages and the never-ending staircase will greet you to the Bavarian kings and the queens. This Pinakothek is one of the oldest galleries in Munich, founded in 1836, collected by the Bavarian Princes and Kings with over 700 art pieces. (Années de Pélerinage, Norman) The division of art pieces are well distributed into the categories of the time, types and size of the paintings. Van Gogh Sunflower, an atmosphere of doom but also calmness is felt inside and most of the people are either tourists or elderly. After you are done with the visit, there is a café downstairs with the best cakes and a gift shop filled with endless toys.
Photo by Jinny U.
Recommended to people who enjoy spending time alone, have thoughts and concerns to clear up their mind and who can envy the emptiness during a rainy day.
An interesting fact to keep in mind is that on Sundays, all the museums’ tickets are only one euro, so I recommend going there on a rainy Sunday evening with a sketchbook and a pencil.
2. Pinakothek der Moderne
Following with the Pinakothek der Moderne, which is only a block away from the Alte Pinakothek. Modern museums are often filled with various types of art and this one is the best to explore modernism within graphic design, and to inspect the iconic, remarkable design industry of all, the Bachhaus. Recently, 9th grade art class visited the Modern Museum and one of the students said that “I liked that it showed variation of modern artworks, not just one type but more of a combination between modernism and contemporary art”. This one is personally my favorite one out of all the museums in Munich because it shows a variation between modern art, design, pop art and the different art exhibitions displayed every two or three months. Famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Wassily Kandinsky are mostly seen in this museum. It is divided to two areas, one area with the paintings and one with where the product designs are displayed on a large shelf which includes cars, chairs, tables and much more.
Photo by Jinny U.
Recommended for people who show great interest in interior design, pop art, primary colors and simple lifestyles.
The two Pinakotheken, modern and the Old both share a field covered in greens where people go picnicking, paint, read books, play volleyball and even tanning. Ensure to visit the two Pinakothek together as a whole and lay down in the sun to get some Vitamin D!
3. Lenbachhaus
While walking towards Marienplatz, have you even seen a yellow building surrounded by blossoms? That is the Lenbachhaus. This shows a greater contrast to the first two Pinakothek, however, it has a strong personality. The museum is filled with avant-garde artists from the 19th-20th century who took a path totally different from the traditional type of art. Artists associated with Munich paintings are portrayed with contemporary art and the collection of the Blue Rider by Kandinsky. However, the main course of the museum is the garden outside.
Photo by Jinny
The coordination of colors between the building and the garden is perfectly collaborated, the visitors can relish the sun while looking through the sculptures made by artists. Coming here with a friend or family is recommended and suitable for people who love to talk about paintings rather than to admire it.
All in all, the art galleries in Munich have a great balance of the museum itself, of the architecture, the environment, and the art pieces portrayed in it. People admiring the work, lying on the coaches for a break, sketching sculptures, and a group of students listening to their teachers, it is simply fun to look at the people, atmosphere, and surroundings rather than just the paintings. Even if you are not an art fan, take this little quiz to see which museum fits you the most!
The link: https://seojinnyuhm.outgrow.us/seojinnyuhm-2
Bibliography:
norman. “The 10 Best Art Museums in Munich – a Travel Guide by a Local.” Annees de Pelerinage, 24 Nov. 2019, www.annees-de-pelerinage.com/best-art-museums-in-munich/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.