The exhibition 'Weltmacht Liebe. Eine Reise durch die Jahrhunderte' at the Austrian National Library's State Hall explores the pervasive emotion of love throughout history and across cultures. It examines love as self-love, spiritual devotion, and romantic or familial love, showcasing its profound impact on art and cultural history.
The exhibition "Weltmacht Liebe. Eine Reise durch die Jahrhunderte" (World Power Love. A Journey Through the Centuries), held in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library, delves into the enduring and pervasive theme of love across human history and diverse cultures. Love, in its various forms—from self-love and spiritual devotion to God, to intimate romantic bonds and care for others—is presented as a central force that has shaped human thought, feeling, and action throughout time.
The exhibition draws from the extensive collections of the Austrian National Library to present a panorama of love, illustrating its journey from unattainable ideals to forbidden passions, from infatuation to enduring love beyond death. It highlights love as a significant source of artistic inspiration, referencing its presence in ancient creation myths, medieval Minnesang, the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert, and the literature of Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Arthur Schnitzler, and Ingeborg Bachmann. Through centuries of love stories, letters, and songs, the exhibition reveals the continuity and adaptability of human emotions, demonstrating the myriad ways love has manifested, often beyond conventions and traditional gender roles.