Angela Merkel signs portrait postcards at Berlin's Bode-Museum

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared at the Bode-Museum in Berlin to sign art postcards featuring her official portrait. The event drew significant interest, with a queue of visitors extending to the museum entrance. Approximately 450 tickets were available for the signing session, with many pre-booked tickets selling out within hours.

Merkel signed the postcards alongside Jérémie Queyras, the artist who painted the portrait. Queyras, who had previously applied to Merkel via a handwritten letter in 2022, spent roughly a year working on the piece. The portrait, which depicts Merkel in a bright blue blazer, has contributed to a near doubling of visitor numbers at the museum since its unveiling in June.

Due to the high demand, the exhibition of the portrait has been extended until January 3, 2027. Originally, the painting was intended to be a temporary display before being transferred as a loan to the Federal Chancellery.