Between Insanity and Beauty – The Art Collection of Dr. Prinzhorn

Paul Klee and Max Ernst were fascinated by the visual works of psychiatric patients. The Prinzhorn Collection is the world's largest collection of such paintings. Beetz takes the audience on a journey through the archives of the Prinzhorn Collection, which since its inception in the early 1920s, has had a lasting impact on psychiatric and therapeutic practice. Even artists such as Klee, Ernst and the Surrealist movement were inspired by "the art of the insane." The documentary follows the lives of two mentally ill patients and tries to define today's definition of art and mental illness.

Keywords

  • Kinoherz
  • Made in Germany
  • Topic: Mental Health
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • history
  • Mental Health
  • psychology
  • women

Actors

  • Angela Winkler
  • Thomas Thieme

Director

  • Christian Beetz

Documentary, Independent


1h 16min


6 FSK

DE


EN

Germany
2007
Paul Klee and Max Ernst were fascinated by the visual works of psychiatric patients. The Prinzhorn Collection is the world's largest collection of such paintings.

Paul Klee and Max Ernst were fascinated by the visual works of psychiatric patients. The Prinzhorn Collection is the world's largest collection of such paintings.


Beetz takes the audience on a journey through the archives of the Prinzhorn Collection, which since its inception in the early 1920s, has had a lasting impact on psychiatric and therapeutic practice. Even artists such as Klee, Ernst and the Surrealist movement were inspired by "the art of the insane." The documentary follows the lives of two mentally ill patients and tries to define today's definition of art and mental illness.

Cast & Crew