"... from me". – papan to papan.
A life in postcards
Photo: papan / Manfred von Papen
Foyer presentation at the German National Library’s German Museum of Books and Writing in Leipzig
12 January to 1 June 2025
Opening: Sunday, 12.01.2025, 11:00 with a matinée
The exhibition opens on Sunday 12 January 2025 at 11:00 am with a matinée.
Manfred von Papen, alias Papan (b. 1943) is one of Germany's most renowned cartoonists. While working for the German press (including Stern, ZEIT, Süddeutsche Zeitung), he drew thousands of sharply delineated pictures of daily life spanning several generations. His cartoons are unmistakable, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, sometimes rife with social criticism. After decades drawing for an audience of millions, Papan has now turned to the person who knows him best: himself.
A few years ago, he began writing postcards to himself, "because finding an appealing postcard in your mailbox simply puts you in a better mood than finding advertising for a stair lift or a remedy for age spots."
The result is an impressive number of hilarious, thought-provoking postcards that reflect on various aspects of everyday life. Both sides of these postcards are fascinating: the front features a meticulous drawing, while the back contains texts that are sometimes laconic, sometimes humorous, sometimes melancholy and always unconventional. Addressed to "M." or "Manfred", they record the artist's everyday life and reflect on current events. The result is a diary of franked postcards that shed light on both the greatest and the smallest things in life.
Manfred von Papen gave the German Museum of Books and Writing a gift of inestimable value when he donated his visual and textual art to them in 2024. The foyer presentation offers an insight into this unique collection.
To accompany the exhibition, a catalogue containing numerous coloured illustrations of the entire postcard collection has been published as volume two of the DBSM book series on comics, illustrations etc.
To the catalogue.
Events
Information for your visit
Opening hours and admission
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 18:00
Thursday 10:00 to 20:00
Public holidays 10:00 to 18:00 (except 24 to 26 December, 31 December and 1 January)
Closed on Mondays
Admission free
Guided tours
General and theme-based guided tours of our exhibitions are held on a regular basis.
To the events calendar
Group tours
You are also welchome to book group tours with us. Simply write us an e-mail:
dbsm-info@dnb.de
Accessibility
The exhibition has barrier-free access.
Address and getting here
German National Library
German Museum of Books and Writing
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig
Getting here
We advise you to use public transport.
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station, take S-Bahn S1 in the direction of Riesa, S2 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S3 in the direction of Stötteritz or S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 7 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.
By air
From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
2 / By car
Approaching from the north
Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).
Approaching from the south and east
Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.
3 / Accessibility
The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.
Last changes:
18.11.2024