Carl Grossberg in Würzburg: New Objectivity Meets Magical Machine Worlds

Carl Grossberg in Würzburg: Between Clear Precision and Magical Machine Worlds

On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Museum im Kulturspeicher will open its doors for the large retrospective Carl Grossberg. Objective – Magical – Visionary. The exhibition showcases the work of an important representative of New Objectivity, combining desolate cityscapes, Franconian landscapes, and fascinating industrial motifs into an impressive event experience.

An Artist Between Bauhaus, Würzburg, and Sommerhausen

Carl Grossberg was born in 1894 and studied at the Bauhaus. From 1921 until his early death in 1940, he lived and worked in the Unterfranken town of Sommerhausen. Many of his paintings depict locations in the region, including Würzburg, Kitzingen, Marktbreit, and Eibelstadt. This gives the retrospective a special regional closeness and opens up familiar city images from an unusual perspective.

Objective Images with Surprising Depth

Grossberg's clearly constructed views of cities and villages appear calm and precise at first glance. However, upon closer examination, tensions arise: empty streets, geometric architectures, and industrial facilities tell stories of modernization, work, and social change. The approximately 50 paintings and around 100 works on paper make visible how closely observation and interpretation are linked in his work.

Machines, Technology, and Dream Images

Grossberg's depictions of machine halls, paper machines, and industrial facilities are particularly impressive. The artist did not idealize technology but posed the question of its controllability by humans. In his so-called dream images, the objective world tilts into the surreal: technology and nature merge into image worlds with a magical atmosphere and visionary impact.

A Current Look at the Present

The exhibition bridges the upheavals of the 1920s and 1930s with today's questions surrounding artificial intelligence, technological acceleration, work, and democracy. This is where its special appeal to the audience lies: art enthusiasts, families, cultural travelers, and visitors interested in the history of technology discover different approaches to Grossberg's work.

Venue and Exhibition Visit

The Museum im Kulturspeicher is located at the Old Port of Würzburg. The exhibition is open on the event day from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. A free program booklet and a multimedia tour in the MiK app support individual engagement with the works. The exhibition was created in cooperation with the Von der Heydt Museum Wuppertal.

Conclusion: Experience Art that Resonates Long After

The retrospective presents Carl Grossberg as a painter caught between sober observation, technical fascination, and mysterious image poetry. Those who wish to experience the interplay of regional history, New Objectivity, and visionary machine worlds firsthand will find a versatile art afternoon with lasting audience impact at the Museum im Kulturspeicher.

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Sources:

• Museum im Kulturspeicher – Exhibition Carl Grossberg
• City of Würzburg – Event Calendar
• Museum im Kulturspeicher – Events and Tours
• Museum im Kulturspeicher – Press Information