Portraits! From Botticelli to Lempicka at Berlin's Gemäldegalerie

The Gemäldegalerie in Berlin presents 'Portraits! De Botticelli à Lempicka', an exhibition running from October 16, 2026, to March 14, 2027. The show brings together 80 masterpieces spanning five centuries, from the Renaissance to the Art Deco era, featuring works by artists such as Sandro Botticelli and Tamara de Lempicka. The exhibition explores the evolution of portraiture as a means of self-presentation and identity construction, drawing parallels between historical portraits and the modern selfie. Through the juxtaposition of Renaissance nobles, artists, and society figures, the display highlights changes in posture, identity, and beauty standards over time. Curated to examine the codes of power and the enduring human desire to be seen, the exhibition offers a dialogue across centuries, revealing how portraiture has served both introspective reflection and public self-staging. The Gemäldegalerie, one of Germany's leading art museums, hosts this comprehensive survey, which promises to engage visitors with questions about representation, status, and the timeless urge for visibility.