
Collection
Historic Photography
On their purchasing expeditions, the museum founders followed the European steamer routes, which led via Istanbul, Alexandria, Port Said, Aden, Bombay (Mumbai), Colombo, Madras (Chennai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) to Singapore, Hong Kong and Yokohama. After the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, European and native photographers established commercial photographic studios in the major ports in order to meet the demand for travel photos by tourists and globetrotters. The Fischers, too, acquired an extensive collection.
In addition, the museum possesses a series of photo albums bequeathed by members of the German military stationed in Qingdao (Tsingtao), who liked to spend their leave in Japan. The albums, mass-produced in Japan with decorative lacquer bindings, were extremely popular. The albumen prints acquired in the studios were stuck in, so that individual travel picture-books could be compiled in this way. While the photographs from China often convey a colonialist message, the enchanting pastel shades of the hand-coloured photographs from the Japanese studios, known as Yokohama shashin, have a definite aesthetic appeal. Both this aesthetic, and the motifs, reveal the influence of the Japanese coloured woodblock print.
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday
11am – 5pm
Every first Thursday in the month
11am – 10pm (except October 3, 2024)
The museum is closed due to the Cologne Marathon on 6 October 2024.
Closed Mondays; open on All Saints' Day
Museum is closed on December 24th, Christmas Day (25 Dec), New Year's Eve (31 Dec) and New Year's Day (1 Jan). Museum is opend on Easter Monday, Whit Monday, German Unity Day and December 26.
Admission prices
€ 9,50 / € 5,50
KölnTag on the first Thursday of the month (except public holidays): free admission to the Museum for all Cologne residents.
How to get here
Public transport: Tram routes 1 and 7 and bus route 142, alight at ‘Universitätsstrasse’
There is a car park at the museum
more
Barrier-free
The museum is barrier-free. Disabled toilet available.
more
Museum für
Ostasiatische Kunst Köln
Universitätsstrasse 100
D 50674 Köln
Ticket office +49.221.221-28617
mok@museenkoeln.de
Legal notice
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday
11am – 5pm
Every first Thursday in the month
11am – 10pm
Closed Mondays; open on All Saints' Day
Museum is closed on December 24th, Christmas Day (25 Dec), New Year's Eve (31 Dec) and New Year's Day (1 Jan). Museum is opend on Easter Monday, Whit Monday, German Unity Day and December 26.
more
Admission prices
€ 7,50 /reduced € 4,50
from 20 June
€ 9,50 /reduced € 5,50
KölnTag on the first Thursday of the month (except public holidays): free admission to the Museum for all Cologne residents.
more
How to get here
Public transport: Tram routes 1 and 7 and bus route 142, alight at ‘Universitätsstrasse’
There is a car park at the museum
more
Barrier-free
The museum is barrier-free. Disabled toilet available.
more
Museum für
Ostasiatische Kunst Köln
Universitätsstrasse 100
D 50674 Köln
Ticket office +49.221.221-28617
mok@museenkoeln.de
Legal notice