Artist's book accompanying the exhibition

With the exhibition vergehen, the Museum for Sepulchral Culture honors the work of the internationally renowned artist herman de vries.
For the exhibition and on the occasion of his 90th birthday, the artist's book vergehen of the same name has been produced. In addition to texts by the artist, curator Dr. Dirk Pörschmann, director of the Museum for Sepulchral Culture, and Ellen Koller, the artist's book contains images of the exhibits shown in the exhibition as well as three hand-signed originals by herman de vries, which are inserted in each book.

herman de vries was born on July 11, 1931 in Alkmaar, NL.

learn more

herman de vries

vergehen
with three original graphics
Texts by herman de vries, Ellen Koller and Dirk Pörschmann
Kassel 2021, 36 pages, 14 color illustrations
format 20 x 28 cm
edition: 108 copies

The edition can be purchased at the Museum for Sepulchral Culture for 480,- Euro plus shipping costs if applicable. If you are interested please contact Kerstin Hering: hering@sepulkralmuseum.de oder 0 561 91893 13.

herman de vries deliberately set the edition to the number 108. The number 1 stands for the beginning, the zero for the end and at the same time the cycle, the eight may be regarded as a sign of infinity. "all in one – one in all" (herman de vries)

Wood cut

The edition "Totentanz" (Dance of Death), which Stephan Balkenhol cut into wood and printed especially for the Museum for Sepulchral Culture as part of the special exhibition "deadline". Every piece is signed and numbered.

learn more

Who leads?

Since the 15th century, the aesthetic examination of the motif of the Dance of Death has reflected the realization that all people – regardless of age, social status or profession – can be called away from death into the hereafter at any time. In the late Middle Ages and early modern times, the moral aspect was at the forefront. One should be prepared, that is, without sin. Stephan Balkenhol lets a woman dance dynamically in the arms of a bone-man dressed in a black suit. One would almost like to think that the two are connected in a lively way in dance, which has always been considered an expression of the joy of life. Who leads, who follows? Who believes to lead and yet only follows? Who follows without noticing that he leads?

Size: 40 × 50 cm, white on black paper (48 × 58 cm), unframed

A few editions of the graphic "Totentanz" are still available through the museum. The price is EUR 890,- plus shipping costs if applicable. If you are interested please contact Kerstin Hering: hering@sepulkralmuseum.de or 0 561 91893 13.