Museo del Prado 2
Thomas Struth, 2005
Information
Created in 2005 in Madrid, Museo del Prado 2 is a large-scale color C-print photograph mounted on plexiglass. Its dimensions (185.42 × 200.66 × 6.1 cm) make it a striking work of great visual power, offered to the public courtesy of The Met Hotel.
Artistic Context
The internationally renowned German photographer Thomas Struth (b. 1954, Geldern) studied at the State Art Academy in Düsseldorf under the guidance of Bernd and Hilla Becher, becoming one of the most important representatives of the famous “Becher School.” His work is structured into series such as street photographs, landscapes, portraits, and museum scenes.
In his series “Museum Photographs,” which includes Museo del Prado 2, Struth examines the relationship between the public and art institutions. He focuses on the attitudes and gazes of visitors, recording psychological “diagrams” of the ways in which art is received. What initially seems like a simple “snapshot” is transformed into a commentary on the contemporary cultural experience.
Placement & Dynamics at The Met
Museo del Prado 2 is part of The Met Hotel’s permanent collection, highlighting the hotel’s commitment to photography as a contemporary visual language. Placed in a gallery-style hallway, it acts as a mirror to the visitor’s experience: the viewer sees other viewers and, through that, sees themselves.
The work invites internal observation and introspection: what is our own attitude towards art? Are we present, detached, or simply someone else’s photographs?
Why it deserves your attention
- An Intellectual Challenge: The work compels you to stand—not just in front of it, but within it.
- Aesthetic Balance: It features a large scale, exceptional color accuracy, and an almost cinematic quality.
- Photographic “Reflection”: The viewer observes themselves through the gazes of others—and becomes part of the work themselves.