COMING SOON: Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker – Visions of a Past

May 10 – September 27, 2026

The exhibition opening will take place on May 10 at 11 a.m. at the Siegerland Museum.

The exhibition presents, for the first time, the work of the largely unknown Siegerland photography pioneer Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858–1940). Like a time capsule, his photographs open a window onto the Siegerland region of the 1910s. Bäcker’s wide-ranging subjects include portraits, artistic nature studies, and scenes at the intersection of rural idyll and industrial modernity.

Who was Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker – and why did he take photographs? What stories do his images tell? The exhibition explores these questions. Selected exhibits also incorporate generative AI, inviting visitors to reflect on the boundaries between reality and interpretation.

Accompanying events

May 28, 2026 | 6:30 PM
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858–1940) – A Photography Pioneer in Northern Siegerland
Lecture by Sven Panthöfer as part of the “Siegener Forum” lecture series

June 14, 2026 | 2:30 PM
Curator’s tour of the exhibition Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker – Visions of a Past

July 21–24
Holiday workshop We Make a Museum in cooperation with BlueBox Siegen

August 9, 2026 | 2:30 PM
Guided tour of the exhibition Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker – Visions of a Past

September 6 | 10:30 AM
Photography with a Smartphone
Workshop for adults with Wladislaw Scheinmeier

Please note: All events are held in German. If you don’t speak or understand German, feel free to contact us.

Learn more
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Postbote, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Postbote, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Zwei Mädchen, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Zwei Mädchen, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Mann im Wald, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Mann im Wald, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Heuernte, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Heuernte, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Kriegsgefangene und Grubenarbeiter, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Kriegsgefangene und Grubenarbeiter, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Hausbau, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum
Friedrich Wilhelm Bäcker (1858-1940): Hausbau, Siegerland, Anfang des 20. Jh. © Siegerlandmuseum

Exhibition Imprint

Director
Dr. Karin Kolb

Curator
Dr. Philipp Bojahr

Academic consultation  
Sven Panthöfer

Exhibition design
Johannes Bade, Dr. Philipp Bojahr

Digital applications
Johannes Bade, Dr. Philipp Bojahr, Steffen Sauer

Exhibition texts
Dr. Philipp Bojahr, Sven Panthöfer

Communication and Education
Viktoria Pfeifer

Exhibition Technicians and Object Installation
Armin Clemens, Jochen Reinhardt

Translation
Philemon Arens-Tsakalis, Dr. Philipp Bojahr, Lukas Vehn

Print
MD Print GmbH & Co. KG, Stadt Siegen Geodatenmanagement

Administration
David Koll, Philipp M. Jagner

We are grateful for the support of 
Frank Bäcker, Ralf Hensel, Carsten Reuß, Anna-Lena Seibel, Ria Siewert