3 N°II 2025 MuseoMag EDITORIAL DEAR READERS AND VISITORS, Spring has finally sprung, and we have a full season of exhibitions and events planned for the return of sunnier days. In this edition of the MuseoMag, you’ll find insights into our upcoming shows, starting with the Musée Dräi Eechelen’s Luxemburger Bundeskontingent. Militär und Gesellschaft im 19. Jahrhundert which is set to open on 23rd April. Our arms and fortress curators Ralph Lange and Simone Feis explain the premise of the exhibition – namely examining Luxembourg’s military history and how it intersects with 19th century society – in addition to giving a glimpse into how the museum plans projects like these. April also heralds the start of the European Month of Photography (EMOP) in Luxembourg, and both the Musée Dräi Eechelen and the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart are staging exhibitions as part of the festival this year, where the focus is on the evolving nature of photography in the digital age. La cité transparente will feature photocollages by Yann Tonnar which draw inspiration from a series of lithographs by Jean-Baptiste Fresez (1800-1867) whilst Beyond The Frame shows work by seven different artists that push the limits and boundaries of the photography. Be sure to read our arms and fortress curator Simone Feis’ interview with Yann Tonnar and our fine arts curator Michelle Kleyr’s article outlining the project at the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart. Another highlight this spring is the opening of the Réimervilla Echternach, a sumptuous Roman villa nestled in the lush landscape around Echternach lake. Our archaeologist Paula Alves’ article reveals the exciting programme of events that we have in store for you at the villa this season, including yoga sessions, storytelling and a market for Luxembourg Urban Garden (LUGA). The Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart will also stage an exhibition for the nature-focused festival. Entitled Land in Motion. Power, People, Landscapes, the project spans a range of different disciplines and sees our archaeologists, historians and art historians come together tell a unique story about people’s complex relationship with nature in Luxembourg and beyond. An offering for children and families is also an integral part of the exhibition thanks to the involvement of our visitors services department. Find out more about the project in the article written by the team. In other news, Francis Bacon’s striking Three Studies for Portrait of George Dyer is still on view at the Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart and our museum guide Nathalie Becker will be hosting guided tours about how Bacon plays with notions of the sacred and the profane in his work. Read her article for a sneak peek of what she plans to talk about in her tour. As always, this edition of the MuseoMag also covers the work we do behind the scenes at the museum. For instance, our decorative arts curator Ulrike Degen shares her recent discovery of two Art Deco ceramics by Léon Nosbusch whilst our conservation department explains how they restored a crayon portrait of Prince Henry of the Netherlands – our paper restorer Francesca Vantellini’s article about this is a must-read – and give insights into the latest pest management strategies – read our head of restoration, registrars, workshops and depots Muriel Prieur’s account. Finally, this issue also celebrates the achievements of people who worked at the museum in the past, notably Eugenie Wilhelm (1917-1988), a dedicated archivist who singlehandedly drew up the museum’s collections inventory and catalogue of photographs. Find out more about this impressive woman and her achievements in our knowledge manager Edurne Kugeler’s article. We also pay homage to Gérard Thill, the honorary director of the museum between 1964 and 1990, who just celebrated his 100th birthday. Thill’s significant contributions to the museum both in terms of archaeology and management are outlined by my predecessor Michel Polfer, who was kind enough to offer to write the article. I hope you enjoy this edition of the MuseoMag and look forward to welcoming you in our museums soon! TANIA BRUGNONI, DIRECTOR © éric chenal