Mapfre Foundation hosts exhibition on Hans Prinzhorn and art brut

The Mapfre Foundation in Madrid is hosting an exhibition titled ‘The other shore of the avant-garde’ to explore the legacy of Hans Prinzhorn. Prinzhorn, a former assistant at the University of Heidelberg’s psychiatric clinic, spent several years after the First World War collecting nearly 5,000 drawings and paintings created by psychiatric patients.

His work led to the influential essay ‘Plastic activity of mentally ill people’, which examined the expressions of madness. While met with caution by the medical community, his findings significantly impacted the art world, particularly influencing Jean Dubuffet and the development of ‘art brut’. The exhibition, curated by Pilar Soler Montes, highlights the connection between mental fragility and artistic dignity, showcasing the impact of Prinzhorn’s observations on subsequent creators.