In medieval art, representation often focuses on the figure—facial expressions and gestures make the unattainable divine experienceable. For example, the delicate corporeality of a Mary with child made of ivory (around 1300) conveys a spiritual closeness. The reality is presented quite differently in the 16th and 17th centuries: here, the seemingly real, deceptively lifelike genre scenes and still lifes are more than they appear. They often contain a deeper symbolic meaning that wants to be read and deciphered. Finally, with the realism of the 19th century, photography and painting compete for authenticity. Between devotion and everyday life, between ideal and observation, the exhibition narrates how each era depicts its truth.