With an unexpected afternoon off and itchy feet, a number of other fellows and I decided to venture north out of Bonn to the smaller town of Brühl. Bettina, the Art teacher at HBG suggested I head up that way to check out the Max Ernst Museum and a show of an artist I was not familiar with: Karen Kneffel.
Not a large tourist destination by any stretch, Brühl is home to a splendid rococo palace, a charming downtown, and of course the Max Ernst Museum.
Set in an idyllic garden landscape, Augustusburg Castle (the residence of the prince-archbishops of Cologne) is among the earliest examples of Rococo architecture in 18th-century Germany. Rococo is know for it’s over-the-top decor and extravagant details, many of which are displayed directly on the outside walls of the castle itself! In particular the twelve faces above the doorways on the garden-facing side leer and giggle, look proud or bashful, each displaying a different emotion.
The gardens and grounds are impeccably maintained in the way only places like this with a team of gardeners and horticulturists can be. Take time to wander the many paths, and perhaps duck into the break in the hedge to see what there is to discover! It’s easy to see why Augustusburg Castle is a UNESCO world heritage site. Check out the gallery below for more images of the castle and its grounds.
Downtown is what I have come to expect of a smaller German town with small cobblestone streets leading to a central shopping area. After a traditional German meal of spärgel (asparagus) and schnitzel (breaded pork chop) we wandered the town before heading to impetus for this trip: the Max Ernst Museum.
Brühl is home to a museum dedicated to surrealist artist Max Ernst. His career spanned decades and he was able to focus on so many media! From painting and drawing to printmaking and of course bronze sculptures! I especially love his geometric sculptures that some how feel like they are going to come to life and tell a story.
Bettina’s recommendation was an excellent one as it led me to discover a new-to-me artist, Karen Kneffel. Her large oil paintings feature rooms as though seen through fogged or rained upon windows. They often include other famous German artworks, or simply common indoor scenes. Absolutely gorgeous technique!!!
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