The unicorn has captured the imagination like no other animal. It has been documented in many cultures for centuries, and its fascination continues to this day. While it is currently encountered as a cute toy or in pop culture, it once had a complex character and a serious presence – in Western and non-European art, in religion and mythology, in literature, natural science, and medicine. Traces of the unicorn can be found in medieval manuscripts, altarpieces, sculptures, art and curiosity cabinets, and tapestries. Since the 19th century, artists such as Arnold Böcklin, René Magritte, and Rebecca Horn have rediscovered this mythical creature for themselves. This publication comprehensively chronicles the artistic path of the unicorn from the 2nd millennium BC to the present day and places it within the history of art and culture.

Museum issue - sold on behalf and for the account of Museen der Hasso Plattner Foundation gGmbH, Museum Barberini, Alter Markt 3, 14467 Potsdam, VAT ID DE280321691