„Ich bin Burda Moden!“ ("I am Burda Moden!") A photo from 1973 impressively supports this quotation from the female publisher: in smart-casual dress, she is standing with self-confidence, a fashionable hairstyle and large sunglasses next to her Riley, known in common parlance as a „Mini Rolls Royce“, in front of her publishing house in Offenburg built by Egon Eiermann. The flat roof is emblazoned with the letters "Burda Moden". The picture in the foyer will greet guests at the exhibition and act as a visual motif for the whole show. It stands for Aenne Burda's glamour, her successful career and her hometown of Offenburg.

The exhibition photographically documents Anna Burda's (28/07/1909 - 03/11/2005) childhood and youth in Offenburg, her marriage to the aspiring printer and publisher Dr. Franz Burda and the birth of her sons Franz, Frieder and Hubert up until the founding of her own publishing house in 1949. Pictures, documents and objects stand as evidence for the energy and job performance of the female publisher who managed to turn one small sewing pattern into an entire fashion empire. „Burda Moden“ is sold in 120 countries around the world. A highlight was the first western fashion show in Moscow and the launch of "Burda Moden" on the Soviet market in 1987. The exhibition in the Museum im Ritterhaus features the famous photo of the "summit meeting" between Aenne Burda and Raissa Gorbatschowa as well as original Russian television images.

The success story of her publishing house is closely linked to the idea of making women more attractive and thereby helping them to become more self-confident. Aenne Burda managed to do this by focussing on patterns that were fashionable, wearable and a perfect fit. The "studio" shows the stages of work from the sketching over the sewing patterns to the finished product.

The famous sheets of "Burda Moden" sewing patterns didn't just inspire amateur dressmakers all over the world, but also artists. The museum contains work by Gerhard Höhme, Martin Sander and Ana Vidigal (photographed by Lothar Schiffler). The station „Alfornelos“ is one of the more modern underground stations in the north of Lisbon. This is where artist Ana Vidigal draped oversized sheets of "Burda Moden" sewing patterns along with technical German textiles terms over the wall tiles.

The work on display is all part of an artistic space in which the enthusiastic collector Aenne Burda is presented. Pictures from Held, Gilles, Chagall, Purrmann and Schmidt-Rottluff will be displayed, all of whom were particularly important to the art lover.

Through art and her encounters with artists, the busy publisher found the kind of harmony and relaxation that she did in her holidays in Italy. Pictures by Kuhn, Kunkel and Lemcke account for this longing for the South. Special titbits for Pop Art fans: a portrait of Aenne Burda and "Three Gentleman" by Andy Warhol.

„Schau mal wie Hollywood!“ ("Look like Hollywood!") Hubert Burda had instructed his mother in 1973 when Andy Warhol was in Offenburg to photograph Aenne Burda. Aenne Burda did not find that hard. For ten years she had hosted the most important ball of the year with her husband, the „Bal paré“ in Munich. International film stars, show business greats, politicians and captains of the economy attended, and Aenne Burda was always the radiant centre piece. In the Museum im Ritterhaus her most beautiful ball gowns, jewellery, accessories and photos from the glamorous female publisher and her celebrity friends are on display.

Aenne Burda loved the great stage, but never forgot her roots, and always stayed in close contact to her hometown Offenburg. The supporting programme pays tribute to her generous donations („Borofsky“ sculpture, Anne Burda Trust). In her funeral oration on November 2005, the Mayoress of Offenburg Edith Schreiner paid her respects with the words „ she was Offenburg's First Lady, an instance and an institution.“

Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm Monday closed

Supporting programme:

Tours Sun 26 Jul, Sun 09 Aug, Sun 30 Aug, Sun 20 Sep, Sun 11 Oct, Sun 25 Oct, Sun 08 Nov, Sun 13 Dec, Sun 03 Jan, start 11 am, 7/ 5 EUR incl. admission fee

On the trail of Aenne Burda by bike
Tour of the town Wed 29/7, 6.30 pm, Wed19/8, 6.30 pm
Admission free

Open house in the Aenne Burda Trust in celebration of the benefactor's 100th birthday
25/7, 3 pm
Burda company chapel
Ute Dahmen reads from her AB biography "Mircales can happen“: Childhood in Offenburg
2 tours of the Trust

Italian evening
7/8, 7.30 pm, Franzenstube Fessenbach
approx. 65 Personen
Pasquale will be cooking Italian dishes
Live Italian music
Ute Dahmen reads from her AB biography „Miracles can happen“: AB in Italy
Cost per person 59 EUR
registration required

Culture at 3.30
29/9 and 24/11, 3.30 pm
7/ 5 EUR incl. admission

Ernst Birsner dishes the dirt from the Burda kitchens
16/10, 7.30 pm, Franzenstube Fessenbach
Bernd Werner cooks dishes from Ernst Birsner's recipes
Birsner tells anecdotes
approx. 65 Personen
Cost per person tbc
Registration required

Presentation "From design to prototype"
17/10, 3 pm
Lucia Schöning, tailoring director of Burda Moden, shows how fashion is made.

Clothes make people – people make clothes
24/7, 31/7, 09/10, 13/11, 3 pm
Museum education course for children 8+