DE
EN
10/24/2026 – 06/06/2027
Museum LA8, Baden-Baden
Luxus. Die Lust am Überfluss
Once a privilege of the aristocracy, from the 18th century to the end of the Weimar Republic luxury developed into a bourgeois status symbol – a cornerstone of modern consumer society. The exhibition at Museum LA8 in Baden-Baden and the accompanying publication examine the ambivalence of the concept of luxury, from moral criticism to its key role as a driver of capitalist dynamics. Although industrialisation made luxury goods more widely available, new social inequalities were also created.
Based on key topics – from colonial cuisine and architecture to fashion and design, as well as to increasing mobility and leisure – the exhibition and book unfold a genealogy of abundance on the threshold of modernity. Against the backdrop of current debates on inflation, resource scarcity and social division, a critical perspective emerges on luxury and wealth today.
The exhibition presents outstanding works from the history of art, culture, and technology, including works by Abraham van Beyeren (ca. 1620–1690), Jan Davidsz. de Heem (1606–1683/1684), Max Slevogt (1868–1932), Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884–1976), René Lalique (1860–1945), Henri Manguin (1874–1949), Emmy Roth (1885–1942), Natasja Sadi (b. 1975), and Heinrich Vogeler (1872–1942).
Museum LA8
Museum für Kunst und Technik des 19. Jahrhunderts
Lichtentaler Allee 8
76530 Baden-Baden
More information about the exhibition.
More on the book Luxus can be found here.
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