Children's Roundelay

Hans Thoma (1839 -1924) played a decisive role in forming the 19th century art collection in Karlsruhe. On the one hand, he was director of the Kunsthalle from 1899 until 1920 and determined the development of the collection during that time. On the other hand, his art is also prominently displayed in his former workplace, as was mentioned in the opening chapter of this volume.

The Kupferstichkabinett - Collection of Prints and Drawings holds more than 100 of his drawings, two sketchbooks, and almost all of the artist's etchings and lithographs. In addition, about 40 oil studies and just as many of Thoma's paintings belong to the collection.

One of the most important among them are "The Artist's Mother and Sister reading the Bible" (1866), "Feeding the Chickens" and "In the Sunshine" (both 1867) and the here shown "Children's Roundelay", which Thoma painted in 1872.