Osthaus Museum Hagen

From the Folkwang Museum to the Osthaus Museum

The Osthaus Museum in Hagen, as a fascinating successor institution, is located in the former Folkwang building and has been presenting works of art from classical modernism and contemporary art there since 1945. The historicist building commissioned by Karl Ernst Osthaus and designed by Carl Gérard houses this impressive collection.

The stylish Art Nouveau interior, partly originally designed by Henry van de Velde, gives the museum its unique charm. Visitors can experience historical elements, while carefully reconstructed areas bring the original atmosphere to life. A highlight is the George Minne fountain in the main hall, a replica by Paul Kussmann, on whose seats visitors can linger.

Expressionism and Art after 1945 to the Present

The focus of the collection is on expressionism and works of art from 1945 to the present day. A special room is dedicated to Christian Rohlfs, whose works are represented in large numbers in the museum. Thanks to his work, he also inspired Emil Schumacher, whose own museum is located in the neighboring building. The approximately 900 Rohlfs works are available in the Christian Rohlfs Archive. Regular temporary exhibitions complement the permanent collection and focus attention primarily on contemporary art and young talent.

Get active and immerse yourself in history

The Young Museum offers 250 square meters of space for hands-on exhibitions and interactive art events for all age groups. A special gem is Sigrid Sigurdsson's installation "Architecture of Memory", a living archive of contemporary documents that invites you to browse and discover. Visitors are invited to expand the collective memory with personal stories.

The Hohenhof, the former home of Karl Ernst Osthaus, with its original furnishings, offers a glimpse into the life of its namesake and rounds off the cultural experience.