“Impressive Miniature Scenes Full of Life and Humour”: The Interpretation of Netsuke at the Museum Folkwang 2010 to 2021

Abstract

Although primarily known as a modern and contemporary art museum the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany also possesses a significant anthropology collection dating from the museum’s inception which is ignored in most scholarship on the museum. Using a biography of objects approach this work analyzes the interpretation of four netsuke in the museum’s collection across three exhibitions between 2010 and 2021. By analyzing the display methods of these objects in these exhibitions, their interpretation by the museum, and utilizing theories of miniature objects I demonstrate that the small size of these objects encouraged visitors to closely examine and decode these objects. Consequently, this work provides a basis for further investigation on how museums exhibit and interpret miniature objects to construct knowledge.