Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau München

The Lenbachhaus is an art museum located in Munich, Germany. It was founded in 1929 and is named after the German painter Franz von Lenbach, whose villa the museum now occupies. The museum's collection is focused on modern art, with a particular emphasis on the Blue Rider movement, which was centered in Munich in the early 20th century.

The museum's prehistory goes back to the late 19th century, when Munich became a center for avant-garde art in Europe. The city was home to a group of artists known as the Munich Secession, who were interested in breaking away from the academic art of the time and exploring new styles and techniques.

In 1911, a group of artists associated with the Munich Secession founded the Blue Rider movement. This group included artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, and August Macke, and they were interested in creating art that was spiritual and expressive, rather than purely representational.

The Lenbachhaus played an important role in the development of the Blue Rider movement. In 1911, the museum held an exhibition of works by Kandinsky, Marc, and other Blue Rider artists, which helped to establish their reputation in Munich and beyond.

During the Weimar Republic, the Lenbachhaus continued to be an important center for modern art in Germany. The museum hosted exhibitions of work by artists such as Paul Klee and Max Beckmann, and it played a key role in shaping the cultural identity of the city of Munich.

However, during the Nazi period, the Lenbachhaus was forced to close, and many of its works were confiscated or destroyed. After the war, the museum was rebuilt and reopened, and it has continued to play an important role in the German art world.

Today, the Lenbachhaus is home to a collection of over 4,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. The museum's collection is focused primarily on modern art, with a particular emphasis on the Blue Rider movement.

Some of the museum's most well-known works include Kandinsky's "Composition VII," Marc's "The Tower of Blue Horses," and Gabriele Münter's "Portrait of a Young Woman." The museum also has an extensive collection of works by contemporary artists, including Gerhard Richter and Joseph Beuys.

The museum's curatorium is made up of a group of experts in the field of art history, who are responsible for overseeing the museum's exhibitions and acquisitions. The curatorium includes scholars from Germany and other countries, and it is committed to promoting the study and appreciation of modern art.