The statistical overview shows the quantitative composition of the Von der Heydt Museum's collection of paintings and sculptures:
It is clearly evident that the majority of the paintings and sculptures come from the 20th century: 71% of the paintings and 86% of the sculptures. The focus of the collection is therefore on this period, in particular on the art of classical modernism and the period after 1945. Around a fifth of the paintings were created in the 19th century. This distribution also reflects the taste of the early protagonists of the collection's history: after the museum opened in 1902, Wuppertal citizens increasingly donated and endowed works from the 17th to 19th centuries.
The statistical analysis of the artists shows that the vast majority - 75% - come from Germany. French and Dutch positions are in second and third place in terms of quantity with just under 5% each. This makes it clear that the painting collection corresponds to the traditional canon of classical art history focused on Germany and Central Europe.
The fact that only 6.5% of the paintings are by female artists also fits in with this result. For a long time, female positions in art history were overshadowed by "great artists". Due to the male-dominated art historiography, but also a one-sided and unequal collecting and exhibition practice of museums and galleries, female artists were less represented and present. This makes it all the more important to recognize these gaps, reflect on them critically and make them transparent.
Opening up the collection to new trends and internationally and making its exhibitions more diverse overall are among the most important goals that the Von der Heydt Museum has set itself for the coming years.
