Modern & Contemporary Art Exhibitions in Aken

With the exhibition The Greatest Happiness of the Earth. Dürer, Rubens, Goya: Horses in Art, the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum is dedicating itself for the first time to a comprehensive exploration of the horse’s outstanding significance in art and cultural history. The exhibition coincides with two internationally significant equestrian events taking place in Aachen in 2026: the CHIO Aachen and the FEI World Championships (Fédération Équestre Internationale). These events provide an exceptional cultural framework and international visibility for the project. The exhibition traces the cultural and artistic significance of the horse from Antiquity to the Modern era. It demonstrates how profoundly horses have shaped human life across centuries: as prestigious companions of rulers and aristocrats, indispensable working animals in agriculture and transport, and as part of leisure culture. Through sculpture, painting, and graphic art, the horse is presented both in its positively connoted roles and critically examined as a symbol of suffering, violence, and extreme emotional states. The presentation follows a clear sustainability strategy. At its core are works from the museum’s own collection, whose potential in this thematic context has so far been only marginally explored. This approach allows for the visibility of a new collection focus while ensuring a resource-conscious handling of transport and loan requests. Selected loans from German, Belgian, and Dutch museums as well as private collections will meaningfully complement the works from the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum’s holdings. The exhibition deliberately sets thematic accents with strong regional connections. Equestrian statues—from Charlemagne to representations of Emperor Wilhelm—illustrate the political symbolism of the horse as an expression of power and authority. Depictions of agricultural horses, stables, and horse keeping reflect social realities and the animal’s deeply rooted role in everyday life. Looking at the Biedermeier period and the Gründerzeit, the exhibition recalls that Aachen was shaped not only by industrial production but also by bourgeois leisure culture and equestrian sport. The exhibition aims to appeal to a broad audience: not only the traditional art-historical museum public, but also people with a strong affinity for horses, families, children and young people, as well as visitors closely connected to equestrian sports in the region. The objective is to lower barriers and make a culturally demanding subject accessible and emotionally engaging through relatable perspectives. Curators Sarvenaz Ayooghi, Wibke Vera Birth Programme An extensive accompanying programme is planned for visitors of all ages, including guided tours, workshops, activity days, readings, theatre performances, and film screenings. A small booklet will accompany the exhibition.