Climate change

It was about 0.5 degrees Celsius colder than normal between 1500–1800. This global phenomenon is known as the “Little Ice Age”. Today, a violent volcanic eruption is assumed to be the trigger – the consequences at that time were extreme winters. This natural climate change is reflected in the large number of winter pictures, as exemplified here by Lucas von Valckenbroch. In addition, humans also influence the balance of nature by consuming resources, using atomic energy or increasing CO2 emissions. Many works of art from Ernst Ludwig Kirchner to Dirk Skreber depict man’s often ruthless treatment of nature and its effects on generations of children and grandchildren. This also results in grotesque-looking scenes such as those in Boris Mikhailov’s photographs.