When does the art break take place?

On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 12:30 to 13:00.

Where is the meeting point?

In the foyer of the House of Graphic Collection at Augustinermuseum Freiburg.

How much does participation cost?

Participation costs the regular museum admission. Additionally, a free event ticket is required from the online shop.

Is registration necessary?

Yes, due to the limited number of participants, a free event ticket should also be booked.

Who is the tour suitable for?

For anyone interested in the Middle Ages, textile art, iconography, and art mediation.

Is the Augustinermuseum barrier-free?

Yes, the museum is described as modern and barrier-free, providing a contemporary museum visit.

Medieval Image Art in Freiburg: The Malterer Carpet tells of Cunning and Love

Name: Art Break: The Malterer or Women's Trick Carpet
Start: 2026-05-13T14:30:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-13T15:00:00+02:00
Location: Augustinermuseum

Art Break at the Augustinermuseum: A medieval carpet full of stories

The short guided tour Art Break: The Malterer or Women's Trick Carpet invites you on May 13, 2026, to a concentrated study of works at the Augustinermuseum Freiburg. In just 30 minutes, a surprisingly dense view of a wall hanging from the early 14th century opens up, telling a story of love, cunning, and power dynamics.

A rare art experience in the House of Graphic Collection

The meeting point is the foyer in the House of Graphic Collection, a place known for providing precise and in-depth approaches to art history. The mediator Beate Reutter will introduce the iconography of the Malterer or Women's Trick Carpet and show how nuanced medieval textile art could narrate: in wool embroidery on linen, with Gothic quatrefoils and in a visual language that continues to be puzzling and vibrant to this day.

Four men, four scenes, one art historical narrative

The carpet places well-known figures from tradition at the center: Samson, Aristotle, Virgil, and Iwein each find themselves in situations of female cunning. This specific constellation makes the work a fascinating testimony of courtly culture, religious symbolism, and literary visual tradition. The carpet connects courtly ideals of love with moral instruction and demonstrates how significantly textile art acted as a medium of social interpretation in the Middle Ages.

The Augustinermuseum as a space for aesthetic experience

The Augustinermuseum is one of the renowned museums in Southern Germany, showcasing art and cultural history from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The former monastery church, with its galleries, balconies, and window axes, creates an impressive exhibition atmosphere. The historical space, the objects, and the new museum architecture intertwine here to create a unique aesthetic experience.

Reasons to visit

This art break not only offers facts but a condensed approach to an extraordinary object of textile art. Those interested in medieval art, art history, museum mediation, and the visual language of the Upper Rhine will experience an intelligent, sensual, and compact approach to one of the most remarkable works in the collection. A live visit is definitely worthwhile, as direct engagement with the original makes the subtlety, materiality, and historical tension of the carpet tangible.