Kirchner Museum Davos

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a founder of Die Brucke and one of the central figures of German Expressionism, came to Davos in 1917 after a breakdown during military service and stayed until his death in 1938. The mountain years changed his work: the nervous, angular Berlin street scenes gave way to Alpine landscapes, herders and interiors in flatter, brighter colour. The museum, opened in 1992 in a building of four glass-roofed cubes by Gigon and Guyer, holds the largest collection of his work anywhere, much of it from his estate.

History

The museum was founded in 1982, first in the old post office at Davos Platz, with the collector Eberhard W. Kornfeld closely involved. Its new building opened on 4 September 1992, when 500 works and 160 sketchbooks with almost 10,000 drawings came from the artist's estate, and another 700 works followed in 1994 (Wikipedia, Kirchner Museum Davos).

The main sights

• The largest Kirchner holding - much of it from the artist's estate.
• The Davos turn in his work - Alpine subjects replacing Berlin streets.
• A 1992 glass-cube building - Gigon and Guyer's daylit galleries.
• Paintings, drawings and prints - the range of his work in one place.

When to go

All year, closed Mondays outside high season. Two hours.

Good to know

The collection rotates, so specific paintings may not be on view. Davos itself is a large conference and ski town, not picturesque. Opening days vary by season. Photography is restricted.

Nearby

Klosters is down the valley; the Landwasser viaduct is on the Albula line west.

Key facts