Plain Talk: About the History of the Bode-Museum

The façade of the Bode-Museum is one of Berlin’s iconic images. But while the exterior of the museum is thoroughly familiar to residents and visitors of Berlin alike, many are unaware of what’s inside: sculptures, Byzantine art, paintings, coins, and medals spanning some 2,600 years of human history. Often, the factors that make a collection a unique and the history behind it remain concealed to the broader public.

The Bode-Museum wants to take a critical look at its history through the lens of the central elements of its contemporary identity. As well as this, it will analyse the history of its collection practices, the architectural history of the building, and the evolution of its audience. Histories that in many ways are connected with the history of Berlin as a city.