Between heaven and war. Art and religion in the interbellum - Catharijneconvent

The growing interest in the world of contemporary art and academia for the works of Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn is also documented by a series of world-class exhibitions promoted in recent times, under the auspices of the Eranos Foundation, by the Trussardi Foundation in Milan in 2015 (“The Great Mother”), by the New Museum in New York in 2016 (“The Keeper”), by the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2021 (“Elles font l'abstraction”), by the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in 2021-2022 (“Mujeres de la abstracción”), by the Kunsthalle in Mainz in 2023 (“Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn. Tiefes Wissen”), by the Museo Casa Rusca in Locarno in 2024-2025 (“Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn: artista - ricercatrice”) and, now, by the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht in 2025 (“Tussen hemel en oorlog”). The organization of these important exhibitions went hand in hand with the publication of the relative catalogues, which also documented a gradual diffusion of Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn's works, in anticipation of a future critical edition of these materials, the so-called "Blue Book," by the Eranos Foundation.

From Friday 21 February 2025, you are able to enjoy the finest modernist masterpieces from the interwar period in Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht (The Netherlands). Through impressive works by leading artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Charley Toorop, Max Beckmann, and Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn, you will discover how artists in the 1920s and 1930s searched for meaning and innovation. Their quest forever changed modern art.

In the aftermath of the Great War, many people yearned for a better world. The horrors of the war left a deep impression on artists. In their art, they sought consolation and guidance with which to process their experiences. In search of new values and modernization, artists and designers experimented with different styles and art movements. They were convinced that art could serve as the foundation for a new society. These artistic quests were expressed in vibrant canvases filled with emotion, color, and deeper meanings. Faith and spirituality served as important sources of inspiration. Museum Catharijneconvent shows this interconnection between modern art and religion in a selection of inspiring artworks from the interwar period.

Take a step back in time to explore the turbulent era between the two world wars. Through a selection of powerful works brought together from high-quality collections, you will learn how religion and spirituality played a surprisingly large part in the rapid development of the fine arts in the early 20th century. Between Heaven and War brings together the highlights of European avant-garde art from 1918 to 1939, in a colorful exhibition that touches and inspires.