Hans Purrmann House

The museum and memorial site in the house of his parents and in which he was born show approximately 70 exhibits (paintings, graphic reproductions, watercolours, and sculptures) representing his wide-ranging accomplishments.

By walking through the rooms, the visitor can still experience the atmosphere of a craftsman’s house from the middle of the last century. The exhibition provides an insight into the joy of colour as well as the richness and beauty of the artistic works of Speyer’s honorary citizen who studied with Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee in Munich and later became a student and friend of Henri Matisse.

In addition to his artistic activities, Purrmann reflected in numerous writings the works of his artistic colleagues: van Gogh, Matisse and Cezanne, to name just a few. During his lifetime, he collected the paintings of his friends and contemporaries. Numerous trips led him through many European countries. For many long years, he lingered in Paris, Italy and Switzerland. In his own room, works of Hans Purrmann’s wife, Mathilde Vollmoeller-Purrmann (1876-1943) are open to public viewing. In rotating gallery displays, works by artists from Purrmann’s circle of friends as well as those of living artists who grappled with Purrmann, can be seen.