Melancholy in Art.

17 Feb-7 May 2006. This exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie explores the idea of melancholy, a major preoccupation in European art over the centuries. Over 300 works are on display, from the earliest representations of melancholy in antiquity to contemporary digital art forms, via Renaissance masterpieces such as Albrecht Drers famous print Melencolia I and Baroque, Roccoco and Romantic reinterpretations of the theme. A separate section is devoted to the 19th centurys scientific approach, which places melancholy between genius and insanity. Modern masters including Munch, Grosz, Dix and Beckmann are featured in the final section. During exhibition hours, art videos will be screened in the specially installed Black Box in the glass hall of the gallery. The exhibition is presented by the National Museums in Berlin and the Runion des Muses Nationaux de France. Admission 10, concessions 6, under 17s free. Tues-Wed 09.00-18.00, Thurs 09.00-22.00, Fri-Sun 09.00-20.00, Easter Fri, Sun and Mon and 1 May 09.00-20.00.