The Genius of Gothic Art

The famous bust of Nefertiti, queen of ancient Egypt, wife of Akhenaten, the heretic pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, has been on display in the Neues Museum in Berlin since 1913. But why is it not, as valuable as it is, in its country of origin, where it was discovered in December 1912 by the German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt?

The Maginot Line: thousands of subway bunkers and concrete defenses lining the French border from Belgium to the Mediterranean Sea, a monumental engineering feat that was celebrated as a technical masterpiece when it was created. When the impregnable wall was demolished by the unbeatable Nazi war machine in 1940, the conquered fortress became the shattered symbol of French defeat.

Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) is both a cultural icon and a lasting source of artistic inspiration. His famous female figures, like Venus and Primavera, have become part of our shared visual memory and influence artists worldwide. Berlin director and art historian Grit Lederer explores Botticelli’s life and work, focusing on the Gemäldegalerie’s impressive collection. The film examines how his iconic paintings continue to inspire art and advertising today. Experts reveal what makes his style unique and why his work was forgotten for centuries after his death. Contemporary artists such as French artist Orlan and American Michael Joaquin Grey present works inspired by Botticelli. The documentary traces Botticelli’s enduring impact from Florence through Paris and New York to Berlin.

Documentary about artist Ai Weiwei's 2014 exhibition in Berlin.

A journey through the Spain of the Baroque, the glorious 17th century, an unfortunate era of endless wars and political tribulations; but also of great painters and sculptors who created astonishing pieces of art: el Siglo de Oro.

Germany holds the largest collection of Cameroonian cultural objects in the world in its Ethnological museums. One important piece is 'Mandu Yenu' the Royal Throne of Bamum, a striking work adorned with glass beads and cowrie shells, also known as the Pearl Throne. What should be done with this masterwork and other pieces overshadowed by their colonial heritage?

The female breast has been a motif for as long as there has been art. For centuries, people have been creating works that showcase this intimate and emotionally charged part of the body. Today, female artists are questioning traditional ideals of beauty and countering the male-dominated perspective of the breast with their own.

As the family house in Aix-en-Provence where Paul Cézanne created much of his work reopens to the public, this documentary looks at the career of the master painter, who drew his avant-garde inspiration from his native Provence.

Four queens, four famous names in Prussian history: Luise, Augusta, \"Vicky\" and Auguste Viktoria. Who were they? Glamorous, rebellious, virtuous, conservative or even scheming? In a panorama from the end of the 18th century to the After the fall of the Prussian monarchy, the documentary opens up a new, female perspective on the military state of Prussia.