THE MOUSEION IDEAL REINTERPRETED AS ART COLONY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF DARMSTADT AND HAGEN

Abstract

Artists colonies proliferated during the 19^th century; but some especially ambitious were founded in the early 20^th century: in a broader sense they could be called ‘art colonies’. Apart from a high density of painters, sculptors, architects or other creative inhabitants, these places were noticeable for their elegant art ornaments and in some cases museums or exhibition spaces were planned as their epicentre. Two of the most outstanding cases were founded on the outskirts of the German cities of Darmstadt and Hagen. Their respective promoters coveted the integration of arts and crafts, a typical art nouveau idea. On the other hand, they were also re-enacting the classic mouseion ideal, even with their high location, towering over their respective city. In both cases such ‘city crown’ would become with time a museum complex in the modern sense of the world.