Basel, Kunstmuseum

The oldest public art museum in the world

The Kunstmuseum Basel is considered the oldest public art museum in the world and is now one of the most significant museums in Europe. Its origins date back to 1661, when the city of Basel purchased a private collection – a milestone in museum history. Today, the museum houses over 4,000 paintings, sculptures, and more than 300,000 works on paper. In the historic rooms, visitors encounter masterpieces by Hans Holbein the Younger, Matthias Grünewald, and Lucas Cranach, while classical modernism shines with works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, and Fernand Léger. Contemporary art is prominently featured in the extension building with works by Gerhard Richter, Jenny Holzer, and Bruce Nauman. With its three locations – main building, new building, and contemporary – the Kunstmuseum Basel showcases an impressive spectrum of artistic developments from the late Middle Ages to the present.

Images from the Kunstmuseum Basel

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