Schwerin State Museum as a guest at the Kulturforum

Opportunities and challenges. Colonial references in historical paintings.

A lecture by Carolin Alff, art historian

The painting "Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig von Württemberg and Henriette Marie von Brandenburg-Schwedt" by Antoine Pesne is one of the most famous 18th century paintings in the Staatliches Museum Schwerin. In addition to the couple, it shows a black woman as a companion figure, a young servant offering a warm drink. Where does she come from? What is her name and what is her story? These are questions that have often remained unanswered until now. Questions that recent research is now looking into intensively.

As part of the exhibition project "Palaces.Prussia.Colonial. Biographies and Collections in Focus" exhibition project, Carolin Alff was able to research numerous colonial references at the Prussian court and thus bring the accompanying figures into focus for the first time. Archival research made it possible to determine important dates such as baptism, marriage and date of death. She was also able to find out a lot about their origins, employment and wages. These people were often bought from the enslavement trade and served at European royal courts.

The exhibition has sparked discussions, some of which have been emotional and are far from over. Based on her research, Carolin Alff will focus on selected paintings. She will also present the opportunities and challenges that a contemporary examination of the colonial past entails for museums.

The event is part of the popular Rendezvous series of the Staatliches Museum Schwerin and is a cooperation with the Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus. Tickets for the event are available for EUR 5 per person at the Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein-Haus.