I first came across this spectacular exhibition while listening to the podcast The Week in Art. On February 6th, they released an episode titled ‚Art Basel Qatar, Dürer portrait debate, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch‚.

As fate would have it, my travel plans brought me to Dresden in mid-March—perfect timing to visit the Albertinum for its special exhibition: Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch. The Big Questions of Life.

Having spent several hours first in the permanent collection and subsequently in the special exhibition, I highly recommend reversing the order—or at least taking a break in between.

By the time I entered the Modersohn-Becker and Munch exhibition, my mind was already saturated with art spanning several centuries. I felt a sense of exhaustion, fearing I was unable to give the works the appreciation they truly deserved.

After an initial walk-through of the exhibition, I completed three more circuits. With every pass, the works became more accessible to me.

A Historic Artistic Dialogue: Modersohn-Becker and Munch

You may not be aware, but this marks the very first time that the works of Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch have been presented in direct dialogue with one another.

Although it is unlikely that they ever met, both artists grappled with fundamental questions of existence around the turn of the century. As the museum’s official website notes:

To a greater extent than others, Modersohn-Becker and Munch found artistic answers to the urgent questions of their turbulent times. That is why their works remain relevant today.

The year 1900 marked the dawn of Modernism, a period when themes such as human existence and the very concept of life were omnipresent. Both artists found unique ways to express themselves and provide their own artistic answers through their work.

150th birthday of Paula Modersohn- Becker

What makes this remarkable juxtaposition even more significant is that it celebrates the 150th anniversary of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s birth.

Indeed, it is no coincidence that the exhibition opened in her birthplace on the very day she would have turned 150.

A Personal Perspective

As a die-hard fan of the German art podcast Augen zu (Eyes Closed), I was already well-acquainted with the names Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch.

However, when I first heard that these two artists were to be shown together, I was unable to connect them to one another. As I can tell you now, the Albertinum has executed the concept perfectly.

Furthermore, the era around 1900 was a pivotal period, and its significance extends far beyond the realm of art history. I first realized this a few years ago during my visit to the exhibition Vienna 1900 at the Leopold Museum.

Art, science, philosophy, psychology, and architecture were all moving at a rapid pace toward modernity. The exhibition perfectly captures this turn-of-the-century Zeitgeist.

The special exhibition Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch: The Big Questions of Life is on view at the Albertinum, Dresden, until May 31, 2026.

I had the pleasure of visiting the exhibition myself on Thursday, March 12, 2026.