„Mensch!“ – a Museum Guide Book of a Special Kind

The selection of the paintings follows a red thread: How were and are people in different epochs represented in art? How did their artistic expression change over the centuries?

The spectrum ranges from the early Middle Ages, in which there are no worldly representations of humans at all, to the performance art of Joseph Beuys. Not only blind and visually challenged people, but all art lovers will gain an extraordinary insight into the Münster collection with this art book.

The time span of the motifs ranges from the 12th century with the Bockhorst triumphal cross, which shows the suffering Jesus not suffering at all but with his head raised, through the 16th century with the “Family Picture of Count Rietberg” by Herman tom Ring , which can be read like a marriage advertisement, to the 19th century with the painting “Lady with Child” by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. Paula Modersohns-Becker and Otto Mueller stand for the 20th century. The object “Küchenchef” by Joseph Beuys closes the extraordinary composition.

All motifs can be experienced sensually in an art book, which is accompanied by a comprehensive audio CD. Specially composed music and professionally recorded texts complete the package.

All six motifs are provided with transparently printed, tactile structures, which reproduce the most important details of the picture composition on the coloured original. In combination with the audio description, this results in a comprehensive impression for the viewer.

In addition to the art book, we have also produced five of the motifs as portable tactile paintings. Their low weight, the handy dimensions of approx. 35 x 50 cm and an even more concise tactile elaboration have already proven their worth during museum tours for blind people.