The Order of Things.

What is the world made of? Do the stars exert an influence on us? What do other parts of the world look like? How about coming and passing away in Nature and human life? What is a good life? What knowledge should a person acquire? What is right or wrong?

Mankind has always striven to understand the cosmos and the world. Familiar concepts, such as the four elements, the four continents, the five senses, the seven liberal arts, the seven virtues and the seven vices, were ways of apprehending phenomena of the world and life in fixed numerical units. At the same time, these phenomena were not viewed as being separate from one another. Rather, microcosm and macrocosm were seen as interdependent systems. The graphic arts took these concepts and visualised them in manifold ways.

With important series of prints from the 15^th to the 17^th centuries, the exhibition The Order of Things presents some of the most important themes. At the same time, it draws our attention to the complex intellectual associations in the early modern world of knowledge. All prints are part of the Veste Coburg’s own art collections.

A series of academic art lectures, guided tours and a creative outreach programme accompany the exhibition. Interactive terminals in the exhibition rooms invite visitors to participate actively.

A catalogue will be published.