One hundred years ago, on March 25, 1921, the influential art patron Karl Ernst Osthaus died. His name may not be very well-known but he was a key player in establishing Modernism in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, being active as an art patron, founding a museum and being involved in the Werkbund.

Osthaus was born in 1874 into a wealthy family and grew up in the industrial town of Hagen in Westphalia. And it was in Hagen that he tried to realize many of his later projects.

During his studies of art history and philosophy he encountered the ideas that art plays an important part in improving the lives of all social classes. A large inheritance gave him the means to attempt to put these ideas into practice. First, he commissioned a museum to be built in Hagen to house his large art collection and make it accessible to the public. While the museum was being built, he came across the work of the architect Henry van de Velde and was so impressed that he commissioned him to design the interior of the museum. In 1902 the museum opened as the Folkwang Museum. It is now regarded as the first museum building specifically designed to house modern art. After Osthaus’ death his collection was moved to nearby Essen but the museum building was subsequently restored and is now known as the Osthaus Museum.

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