The 1920s. Golden Years – Dark Times

July 5, 2026 – January 24, 2027

The 1920s. Even today, this era, which was characterised by a contrast between a spirit of optimism and crisis, still holds a special fascination – perhaps because it is so relevant to our present day.

This period is usually associated with iconic images from the world’s major cities: Berlin and dancing on the volcano, Paris and the bohemian art scene, New York and the glamour of Art Deco. But what was everyday life like back then? How ‘golden’ was life in a medium-sized city like Trier at a time marked by the worries of war, economic crises and profound change?

Today, almost no one can report on this personally. Nevertheless, the 1920s seem very familiar to our collective memory. They are the first historical decade to be documented in a modern sense by the emerging mass media. Nostalgia and reality are closely intertwined. This is precisely why it is important to reconstruct the past as accurately as possible. Using paintings, everyday objects, documents and personal memories, this exhibition traces the breaks and continuities that set the course for today’s urban society 100 years ago.

The exhibition is bilingual: German and english.