Located in a university psychiatric clinic, the Prinzhorn Collection is devoted to collecting art that acted like windows into the psyche of its mentally ill patients.
The collection is named after art historian Hans Prinzhorn who was educated in medical science during World War I and sought to merge his two disciplines after the war. After joining the University of Heidelberg Psychiatric Clinic in 1919, Prinzhorn was tasked with expanding the arts program that had been established among the patients. Under Prinzhorn’s direction the collection of artworks from sufferers of everything from schizophrenia to depression grew to over 5,000 pieces from over 450 patients.
About the source
Atlas Obscura aims 'to inspire wonder and curiosity about the incredible world we all share'. You can contribute to their collection on their website.
