MUSEUM VISIT

„Auf Gemälden sieht man überall nackte Leute. Das fing bei den alten Griechen an, die fanden, dass ein nackter Körper schön sei und studiert werden sollte.Selbst heute noch üben Künstler, indem sie nackte Leute zeichnen, um sich mit den Formen des Körpers vertraut zu machen. Das nennt man Aktzeichnung. In der Kunst bedeutet Nacktheit häufig ein neues Leben“. (Susie Hodge)

The children were extremely curious and they had numerous questions, for example:

As a child saw a half naked man with blood lying on the ground in a painting she said “Vielleicht müssen sie ein Arzt holen”.

„Warum dürfen wir nicht so nah gehen?“
This was due to the alarm security system against theft.

„Wo ist der Helm vom Ritter?“
Another child answered „Ich weiß wo der Helm ist, da bei dem Hund“.

Franziska asked the children „Seht ihr den anderen Hund?“. But the dog wasn’t that easy to find because he was hidden in the darkest corner. So that was a tricky question! But after patient searching, many children found him!

There was also the question asked: “Gibt es auch Dinos hier?”

After about ten minutes into our visit, suddenly an alarm went off. It was time for a fire drill! We reassured the children that it wasn’t because we went too close to the paintings, but that it was a “Feueralarmübung”. We were calmly and quickly escorted outside onto the main road to the collection point by men and women who coincidently wore black clothing very similar to that of the fire brigade. Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), this led to some disappointment from a few of the children!

„Von den Wachen sind die Ohren geplatzt“ observed one child.

Another replied „Es gibt kein Feuer, wir tun nur so. Ist aber nicht“.

As the fire drill was taking a bit longer than expected, came the suggestion

“vielleicht können wir hier draußen die Nackten angucken” or „vielleicht ist das Museum kaputt?“

Luckily Franziska still had her book with her and so was able to continue showing pictures of the paintings whilst outside waiting. Amongst other things, we discussed the difference between “Berger” and “Bürger”.

“Es gibt kein Feuer mehr” said one child, but due to the loudness of traffic outside it came across as “Es gibt die Feuerwehr”

Another child said “Weißt du was? Ich hatte gedacht in dem roten Raum, dass es Feuer war, weil es so rot war”.

After about fifteen minutes we were allowed to enter the building again where we all sat on the floor in front of a very large family portrait from Rembrandt showing the family of ten wearing historical costumes. Firstly Franziska let the children play a small puzzle game which coincidently had the same picture as the famous painting. Then Franziska asked the children various questions, for example: “Wieviele Leute gibt es in der Familie?” “Sind sie ähnlich?“ „Was hat die Mama in ihre Hand?“ „Welches Musikinstument wird gespielt?” “Was tragen sie am Hals?

”At another large painting the children were allowed to recognise and count the different animals shown, varying from dogs, goats, sheep, birds to tortoises. Another child and I recognised that her Mummy and I both had the same type of “Griechische Landschildkröte” as shown in the painting! What all one can discover from a visit to a museum!

As we didn’t get to see all of the naked bodies and paintings at the Anton Ulrich Museum this time, due to the fire drill, we’ll just have to go back again for more! Would anyone be interested in joining us? You’d be very welcome.