Max Peiffer Watenphul. Painter of the Bauhaus — exhibition at the

Max Peiffer Watenphul. Painter of the Bauhaus

Dates: 21 April – 23 August 2026

The National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome presents a monographic exhibition on Max Peiffer Watenphul, curated by Gregor H. Lersch. Organized by the Max Peiffer Watenphul Foundation ETS in collaboration with the Museo Casa di Goethe, the show traces the artist’s development from his Bauhaus training to his Italian production after the war.

The exhibition highlights Watenphul’s ties to the Bauhaus school and to prominent masters, underlining how painting remained the central medium of his practice despite his interdisciplinary experiments.

• Venue: National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, Rome
• Period: 21/04/2026 – 23/08/2026
• Curator: Gregor H. Lersch
• Works on display: around 80 pieces including paintings, watercolours, textiles, photographs and previously unpublished documents
• Layout: exhibition divided into five thematic rooms
• Partners and support: Museo Casa di Goethe; Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung, Berlin; patronage of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany

Highlights include the earliest known oil from 1917 “Grace with Cat”, Bauhaus-period watercolours such as “Still Life with Lemons” (1921), and late works like “View of Il Pero” (1970). Archival letters and documents from the artist’s estate are also on display for the first time.

The itinerary examines Watenphul’s major phases — his education at the Bauhaus in Weimar, extensive travels in Italy and abroad, and the Venetian years after WWII — showing how his painting evolved into a distinct language that combined figurative clarity with interdisciplinary approaches.

For practical information on opening hours, tickets and guided visits, please consult the official website of the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art.