Kunstmuseum Basel

Basel, Switzerland

The Kunstmuseum Basel houses the largest and most significant public art collection in Switzerland. The Kunstmuseum possesses the largest collection of works by the Holbein family. Further examples of Renaissance art include important pieces by such masters as Konrad Witz, Hans Baldung (called Grien), Martin Schongauer, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Mathias Grünewald.

The main features of the 17th and 18th centuries are the Flemish and Dutch schools (e.g. Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Brueghel the Elder), German and Dutch still life painting. Key works from the 19th century include the Impressionists represented by Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne as well as the paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Switzerland’s Arnold Böcklin and Ferdinand Hodler.

In the 20th century, the focus is on works of Cubism with Picasso, Braque and Juan Gris. Expressionism is represented by such figures as Edvard Munch, Franz Marc, Oskar Kokoschka and Emil Nolde. The collection also includes works from Constructivism, Dadaism and Surrealism and American art since 1950. Further highlights are the unique compilations of works from Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Paul Klee, Alberto Giacometti and Marc Chagall.

In the realm of more recent and contemporary art, the collection maintains substantial bodies of work by Swiss, German, Italian, and American artists, including Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Georg Baselitz, A.R. Penck, Brice Marden, Bruce Nauman, Jonathan Borofsky, Roni Horn, Francesco Clemente, Mimmo Paladino, Enzo Cucchi, Martin Disler, Leiko Ikemura, Markus Raetz, Rosemarie Trockel and Robert Gober.

The Kunstmuseum’s main building was designed and constructed 1931-1936 by architects Paul Bonatz und Rudolf Christ.

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Founded: 1931-1936
Category: Museums in Switzerland

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Tim Sutton (3 months ago)
We made a special trip to Basel to go to the Kunstmuseum and the Beyeler Foundation. Kunstmuseum didn’t disappoint with an excellent collection. We enjoyed the Night At The Museum event.
sukanya bhawal (4 months ago)
Interesting museum with knowledgeable staff. Good place to soak in some culture while in Basel. Kids friendly. Can easily spend 4-5 hours admiring their collection.
Faisal Al Humaid (6 months ago)
The Fine Arts Museum was highly recommended as one of the top activities in the city. I eagerly anticipated my visit, and as I approached the museum, my excitement grew upon seeing the magnificent structure standing majestically in the distance. Upon entering, the impressive architecture continued to captivate me. For individuals with an appreciation for architecture, this museum is an absolute must-see. However, despite the €16 admission fee, I was profoundly disappointed by the quality of the art presented. It lacked character, expression, and any discernible educational value. Essentially, it was a squander of both time and financial resources. It is regrettable that such a magnificent edifice houses such uninspiring artwork. In my professional opinion, I would advise against visiting this attraction until or unless the exhibition undergoes a significant transformation.
Fabio Ardiani (8 months ago)
A lot of good paintings in the museum. However, there may be missing a story to tell. The paintings are separated in rooms with their respective names and dates but nothing can be learnt in terms of history of the art or history itself. Without this, it may feel for non-art fans that it is just a collection of paintings, and not a museum, which may become boring.
Akinola Atere (9 months ago)
Very eventful and adventurous while feeding my eyes with the beauty of the best of paintings and sculptures. Worthy of note was the “When they see us” exhibition that was on and should be still on till Oct. it show cased black based painting spanning centuries of struggles and liberation.
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