When does the exhibition take place?

The cabinet exhibition is on view from September 4, 2026, to April 11, 2027, at the Hessian State Museum Kassel.

Where is the exhibition located?

The exhibition takes place at the Hessian State Museum at Brüder-Grimm-Platz 5 in 34117 Kassel.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission for adults is €8. The reduced admission is €5. Children and teenagers up to 18 years and other eligible groups have free admission.

Are there workshops or participation offers?

Yes, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the fundamentals and possibilities of microscopy through workshops and research stations.

Is the exhibition suitable for children and teenagers?

Yes, the interactive research stations and workshops provide an illustrative approach to the history of science and are particularly suitable for curious young visitors.

How long does a visit last?

No binding duration for a visit is specified. Sufficient time should be planned for the exhibition with contemplation of works and participation stations.

Zoom in Kassel: Historical Microscopes Open Fascinating Views into Hidden Worlds

Name: Zoom: Insights into the World of Microscopy
Start: 2026-10-04T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-04-11T18:00:00+02:00
Location: Hessisches Landesmuseum

Zoom: Discovering the Hidden World through Historical Microscopes

The cabinet exhibition Zoom: Insights into the World of Microscopy at the Hessian State Museum Kassel opens a view into a world that remains hidden from the human eye. From September 4, 2026, to April 11, 2027, Hessen Kassel Heritage presents one of the most significant collections of historical microscopes, connecting the history of science, collection culture, and aesthetic experience.

The Second Look at the World

Since their invention in the 17th century, microscopes have fundamentally expanded human perception. What had previously remained invisible became discoverable through lenses, light, and precise mechanics. The exhibition traces the development of microscopy and shows how scientific instruments brought forth new ideas about nature, body, and reality.

Landgraves' Passion for Collection and Scientific Curiosity

The focus is on collections from the Astronomical-Physical Cabinet of Hessen Kassel Heritage. In particular, Landgrave Carl of Hessen-Kassel collected numerous microscopes of different designs. The historical instruments thus represent not only technical innovation but also courtly knowledge culture and the close connection between research, education, and representation.

Instruments between Precision and Aesthetics

The contemplation of works focuses on forms, materials, and constructions: lenses, tubes, brackets, and finely crafted housings make the technical character of the instruments immediately tangible. In the exhibition atmosphere, painting, sculpture, and installation do not meet as classical art genres, yet the historical microscopes unfold their own aesthetic presence through their materiality and spatial impact.

Research Stations and Workshops

The exhibition understands itself as a place of cultural education. Workshops and research stations invite visitors to actively explore the principles of microscopy. Thus, the historical presentation merges with an immediate art experience of a unique kind: observation, experimentation, and amazement become a shared aesthetic experience.

Conclusion: Experience the History of Science Live

Zoom: Insights into the World of Microscopy opens a fascinating boundary region between museum, history of technology, and visual perception. Visitors will experience historical instruments as testimonies of human curiosity and discover how significantly our image of the world has changed through new optical possibilities. Anyone seeking the connection between history, research, and sensual contemplation of works should not miss this exhibition at the Hessian State Museum.