Forgotten Art in Bamberg: Discovering Alexej Borutscheff at the State Library
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Forgotten Art in Bamberg: Rediscovering Alexej Borutscheff
The Bamberg State Library is showcasing an artist whose work uniquely, poetically, and surprisingly modernly shaped the post-war period in Bamberg. Alexej Borutscheff, born in 1911 in present-day Russia, came to Bamberg in 1945 and remained connected to the city until his death in 1994. The exhibition offers the first comprehensive view of his work and makes the aesthetic power of his drawings, woodcuts, etchings, watercolors, and paintings tangible. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/ausstellung_vergessene_kunst_i-745281-12648757/))
An Artist between Architecture, Literature, and Fantasy
Borutscheff began as a trained architect but then fully dedicated himself to art. This creates the unique tension in his oeuvre: a precise perception of space, building structures, and urban backdrops meets an expressive, fantastic visual language. His works depict Bamberg and its surroundings, as well as people, animals, plants, and genre scenes. The forms appear condensed like woodcuts, yet sensitive and idiosyncratic. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/ausstellung_vergessene_kunst_i-745281-12648757/))
Literary Visual Worlds with Intellectual Depth
A focus of the exhibition is on Borutscheff's literary illustrations. Particularly well known are his works related to Goethe’s Faust and E. T. A. Hoffmann; there are also references to world literature from Aesop through Aristophanes, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Shakespeare, and Swift to Brecht, as well as to Russian authors like Tolstoy and Solzhenitsyn. Borutscheff transcribed texts by hand and created a visual reading piece from them. Thus, an artistic experience emerges that connects literature, illustration, and art historical context. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/ausstellung_vergessene_kunst_i-745281-12648757/))
Bamberg as Subject, Memory, and Visual Space
Especially expressive are Borutscheff's views of Bamberg: churches, buildings, figures, and notable places turn into images between documentation and imagination. The allure of the exhibition lies precisely in this combination of local memory and artistic freedom. The Bamberg State Library has preserved the estate since 1995 and, with this presentation, opens a rare glimpse into a collection that intertwines art history and local history in a special way. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/ausstellung_vergessene_kunst_i-745281-12648757/))
Location, Atmosphere, and Visitor Experience
The exhibition takes place at the Bamberg State Library in the New Residence at Domplatz 8. The house is known as a research library of international renown and also opens its historical collections for cultural education and special exhibitions. Access is possible via a ramp; additionally, the library can be easily reached by city bus line 910. There are no parking options directly at Domplatz for drivers, so nearby parking garages are recommended. ([staatsbibliothek-bamberg.de](https://www.staatsbibliothek-bamberg.de/ueber-uns/kontakt/))
Conclusion
Forgotten Art in Bamberg is more than an exhibition about a single artist. It is an invitation to see the post-war modernity in Bamberg anew, to experience Borutscheff’s powerful visual language in person, and to discover the connection between literature, city, and artistic handwriting live. Anyone who wants to not just view art but experience it in its intellectual and sensory depth should definitely visit this exhibition. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/ausstellung_vergessene_kunst_i-745281-12648757/))
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