A founding member of the Berlin Secession, August Gaul looked to the animal kingdom as a source of inspiration unspoiled by industrialised life. His sculptures, prints and paintings are among 250 works on show in this exhibition at Kunstmuseum Bern (4 June–24 October) – along with zoological books, photographs and artworks by his contemporaries. Together, these works provide a record of evolving European attitudes to animals at the turn of the 20th century. Find out more from the Kunstmuseum Bern’s website.
Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary here
Ostrich (1900), August Gaul. Kunstmuseum Bern, loan from Zwillenberg Foundation
Tiershutz! (1925), Niklaus Stoecklin. Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Plakatsammlung, ZHdK. Photo: © 2021, ProLitteris, Zurich
Big Standing Lioness (1899–1901), August Gaul. Photo: Uwe Dettmar; © Städtische Museen Hanau
Circus Knie (n.d.), Lothar Jeck. Photo: © Verein zur Erhaltung des Fotoarchivs Jeck, Büro für Fotografiegeschichte Bern