Flood of Life – Storm of Deeds

The exhibition portrays Goethe as a witness to the dawn of modernism around 1800 and presents his fascinating life and work in contemporary contexts.

Goethe still captures the imagination of modern readers and researchers. This is illustrated in the exhibition “Flood of Life – Storm of Deeds” at the Goethe National Museum. The exhibition portrays Goethe as a witness to the dawn of modernism around 1800 and presents his fascinating life and work in contemporary contexts.

The eleven rooms of the exhibition highlight Goethe’s many facets which extend far beyond his literary achievements – from his political duties as a statesman to his drawings and his numerous botanical studies.

The exhibition draws on an extraordinary body of valuable originals, artworks, and natural-historical objects from Goethe’s personal collections, letters and diaries, everyday items and personal mementos – all of which uniquely enrich the character and atmosphere of the Goethe Residence.

Based on the key themes Genius, Violence, World, Love, Art, Nature and Memory, the exhibition introduces visitors to the socio-cultural debates of the time around 1800 and forms a bridge to issues of the present day. The “Faust Gallery” serves as the connecting element between the rooms. Here, visitors can select key words from Goethe’s dramas which are then projected onto the screens of an installation.

A diverse educational programme is targeted at both Goethe experts and those who are new to the Goethe cosmos. Our new media guide accompanies visitors through the entire Goethe National Museum. In the exhibition “Flood of Life – Storm of Deeds”, it helps visitors become better acquainted with Goethe’s life, his literary works and how he arrived at his ideas and insights.