Max Peiffer Watenphul: Bauhaus painter at the National Gallery of

Max Peiffer Watenphul: a Bauhaus painter at GNAMC, Rome

The Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea hosts a comprehensive exhibition on Max Peiffer Watenphul until 23 August 2026. Curated by Gregor H. Lersch and promoted by the Max Peiffer Watenphul Foundation ETS, the show highlights the artist’s sustained commitment to painting within the interdisciplinary environment of the Bauhaus.

About 80 works are on display, illustrating key phases of Watenphul’s career: early studies, his formative years at the Bauhaus in Weimar, Italian views and still lifes, and the Venetian works of the postwar period.

Highlights

• Paintings: core works demonstrating the central role of painting in his practice.
• Textiles: a 1921 tapestry and a hand-made reproduction prepared for the exhibition, showing the Bauhaus’ interdisciplinary approach.
• Watercolours and still lifes: including "Still Life with Lemons" (1921).
• Key works: the earliest known oil from 1917 and late pieces such as "View of Il Pero" (1970).
• Archival documents: previously unpublished letters and papers from the artist’s estate.

Why visit

The exhibition reveals how Watenphul integrated the Bauhaus experience into a distinct pictorial language. The juxtaposition with works by contemporaries and the archival material provides a complete perspective on his stylistic evolution and cultural connections.

Exhibition layout

• Introductory room: biography, early studies and family portraits.
• Bauhaus room: works from the Weimar years and links with the German avant-garde of the 1920s.
• Subsequent rooms: Italian landscapes, Venetian postwar paintings and mature-period selections.
• Documentary section: letters, contracts and previously unseen archival material.

Practical note: the exhibition runs through 23 August 2026. Check the GNAMC official channels for opening times, ticketing and guided visits before planning your trip.