4–23–23

Book launch at Villa Heike, Berlin on April 22, 2023

Conversation with Prof. Dr. Steffen Siegel about Sabina, Rekonstruktion einer Recherche (Reconstructing a Research)

Villa Heike
Freienwalder Straße 17
13055 Berlin

Who was Sabina von Steinbach?
If one follows her portrayal on the figure frieze in the staircase of the Old National Gallery in Berlin, she was an important medieval sculptress. However, she probably never existed. Why was she nevertheless, as the only female artist, included in that central frieze of famous personalities at the end of the 19th century?
Starting from this question, extensive research began in libraries, archives, museums, churches and other places in Germany and France. Contradictory statements and strange theories from more than four centuries were gathered. The book retraces this search, including misdirections and detours.The result is a feminist manifesto that analyses different perspectives with a decidedly subjective approach.

Sabina
Rekonstruktion einer Recherche

(Reconstructing a Research)
416 pages, 194 photographs,
Text (german)
Design: arc, Timo Grimberg
Textem Verlag, Hamburg, 2023
44,00 Euro