When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition can be seen on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, starting at 12 PM at Villa Rosenthal Jena.

Where is Villa Rosenthal located?

Villa Rosenthal is located at Mälzerstraße 11, 07745 Jena.

Which works will be shown?

Bettina Schünemann's 40-sheet series The Grand Inquisitor from 1990, based on Fyodor Dostoevsky, will be displayed.

What artistic techniques does Bettina Schünemann use?

The series combines collage, gouache, watercolor, wax crayons, and pencil on paper, as well as on wallpaper, printed forms, and newspaper papers.

Are there regular opening hours for Villa Rosenthal?

According to JenaKultur, the exhibition area is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 PM to 3 PM, and Wednesdays from 1 PM to 5 PM. Times may vary on event days.

Is the admission price known?

A specific admission price is not listed in the available event information.

The Grand Inquisitor: Bettina Schünemann's Intense Visual World About Freedom and Authority

Name: Word Worlds|Image Worlds: The Grand Inquisitor
Start: 2026-10-27T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-27T12:00:00+01:00
Location: Villa Rosenthal

Freedom or Authority? Bettina Schünemann's Image Series at Villa Rosenthal

The exhibition Word Worlds|Image Worlds: The Grand Inquisitor presents Bettina Schünemann's 40-part series from 1990 at Villa Rosenthal Jena. Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's famous literary figure, the artist unfolds an intense psychological study of power, faith, doubt, and the human yearning for security.

A literary conflict becomes an image world

Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor symbolizes the contradictory relationship of humans to freedom. The church and guardian of faith doubts whether people truly want to accept the freedom envisioned by Christ. Bettina Schünemann translates this philosophical conflict into a concentrated visual language that makes visible an inner state rather than a narrative scene.

The head as a psychological portrait

Schünemann focuses exclusively on the depiction of the head. This reduction gives the series a strong presence: face, gaze, and physiognomy become carriers of authority, doubt, and inner tension. The individual works act like variations of a mental landscape where political power and human vulnerability meet.

Collage, gouache, and watercolor on paper

The artist uses paper as a medium and combines wallpaper, printed forms, and newspaper papers in careful collages. Gouache and watercolor paints, wax crayons, and pencils enhance the materiality of the works. Different surfaces, overlays, and traces of application create a multifaceted aesthetic between painting, drawing, and collage.

An exhibition with contemporary relevance

The question of the relationship between freedom and authority goes far beyond Dostoevsky's literary source. In light of the cultural and political climate in Germany and worldwide, the series gains immediate relevance. The exhibition invites contemplation of the works and opens spaces for cultural education, historical reflection, and personal aesthetic experience.

Villa Rosenthal as an exhibition venue

The Villa Rosenthal, built in 1892 and restored in accordance with heritage conservation, is one of the special places for public cultural events, exhibitions, and encounters with history in Jena. The historical atmosphere of the house enhances the art experience and creates a focused framework for engaging with Schünemann's image world.

Conclusion: An intense art experience about power and freedom

Visitors can expect a sophisticated exhibition where literature, art history, and political present engage in dialogue. Bettina Schünemann's series challenges the gaze and leads from quiet contemplation to fundamental questions of human coexistence. A visit to Villa Rosenthal enriches the aesthetic experience and makes the relevance of this image world immediately palpable.