Mein Morgenstern. Ein Buch zum 111. Todestag von Christian Morgenstern

With the traveling exhibition “Mein Morgenstern. Ein Buch zum 111. Todestag von Christian Morgenstern,” the Gutenberg-Museum Mainz presents an extraordinary collaborative book arts project that brings together traditional craftsmanship and literary heritage. The exhibition will be on view in the reading room of the museum library from 9 July to 28 August 2026.

The exhibition pays tribute to the literary artistry of Christian Morgenstern, whose playful and humorous poetry continues to delight readers today. The book project of the same name was initiated by the Association for the Black Art, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional crafts of type founding, hand typesetting, and letterpress printing. In collaboration with Büchergilde Gutenberg, the Masters of Fine Bookbinding Association, and the Homburg Paper Mill, the partners created a work that showcases the art of bookmaking in all its richness.

Numerous printers, book artists, and bookbinders from across Germany contributed to the project, producing a remarkable volume through meticulous hand craftsmanship. The result is a book that has been hand-set, letterpress-printed, and hand-bound, creating an exceptional tribute to Morgenstern’s literary legacy, particularly his celebrated Gallows Songs.

The Association for the Black Art is committed to preserving and passing on the traditional techniques of the historic printing trades. These include the crafts of type founding, typesetting, and letterpress printing, all of which are closely connected to the city of Mainz and its legacy as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg’s invention.

The exhibition also marks the opening of a new venue within the Gutenberg-Museum Mainz . In the future, the museum library will host small-scale exhibitions, lectures, and readings, establishing it as a vibrant cultural meeting place in Mainz.

Exhibition

When?
July 8th, 6 p.m.
August 28th, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Where?
Gutenberg-Museum Mainz
Reichklarastr. 1, D
55116 Mainz

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