Unveiling Paula Fichtl’s Story Through Art at the Freud Museum’s ‘Housekeeper’ Exhibit

The Unconventional Art Exhibition at Freud Museum

Die Freud Museum in Hampstead presents a fresh and captivating exhibition titled Housekeeper, running from October 29, 2025, to March 1, 2026. Unlike many traditional displays in historic homes that can feel forced or disjointed, this exhibition smoothly integrates contemporary artwork with the museum’s everyday story, inviting visitors to see familiar spaces in a new light.

Setting the Scene: The Freud Museum’s Historic Space

The museum, housed at 20 Maresfield Gardens, London, was once the home of the renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. After fleeing Austria in 1938 due to rising tensions, Freud and his family settled in this quiet, leafy neighborhood. The house opened to the public in 1986, preserving Freud’s famous study and collection of antiquities, including his iconic therapeutic couch surrounded by historical artifacts from various cultures.

Paula Fichtl: The Unsung Hero of Freud’s Household

The exhibition focuses on Paula Fichtl, the longtime live-in housekeeper of the Freud family, whose story often remains in the shadows. Paula began working with the Freuds in Austria during her twenties, managing household duties and caring meticulously for Freud’s collection and consulting room. She even welcomed visitors and guided them into Freud’s personal spaces. In 1938, Paula accompanied the family to London and played a crucial role in recreating Freud’s famous study, using her intimate knowledge of how the room and objects were arranged—a task that offered Freud, who was seriously ill, a sense of familiarity in a new country.

Art Reflecting Paula’s World

Contemporary artist Cathie Pilkington takes inspiration from Paula’s life and work, inserting her figurative sculptures into Freud’s study to prompt visitors to question what is original and what has been introduced. This playful mix blurs the lines between authentic artifacts and new creations, sparking reflection on why and how we assign value and meaning to objects.

The Hidden Life Within a Historic Home

The exhibition also reveals the less visible aspect of Paula’s existence. In Vienna, she had no private space of her own, sleeping in a cramped passageway between Freud’s waiting and consulting rooms—an existence lived in near invisibility. It was only in London that Paula finally had her own room, shedding light on how personal space and possessions shape our connection to home.

The storeroom installation with scattered blankets and fading photographs evokes this sense of transience, making visitors ponder what we keep, what is forgotten, and how memory interacts with physical space.

Why Objects Matter: Questions Raised by the Exhibition

The exhibition invites deeper contemplation on human relationships with possessions. Why do we keep certain items? What significance do artifacts hold beyond their physical form? Encountering Paula’s story alongside Freud’s powerful collection challenges the usual narrative focused only on the celebrated figure, instead highlighting the vital role of care and presence behind the scenes.

Visitors are encouraged to consider their own homes—if someone unfamiliar crossed through, could they read the stories of those who live there? What traces would remain of the unseen caretakers of daily life?

Impact of Contemporary Art in Historic Settings

By merging Pilkington’s artworks with the Freud Museum’s archival atmosphere, the exhibition succeeds in giving voice to an overlooked figure and redefining the museum experience. It transcends typical displays by asking visitors to grapple with shifting power dynamics and the nuances of care, ownership, and memory.

Visiting Details

Housekeeper exhibition runs from October 29, 2025, to March 1, 2026. The Freud Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday. Admission prices are £14.50 for adults, £12.50 for concessions, £9 for children aged 12-16, and free for those under 12.

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Zusammenfassung

Die Housekeeper exhibition at the Freud Museum offers a compelling look into Paula Fichtl’s often overlooked life and role, blending contemporary art with historical narrative. Through Cathie Pilkington’s inventive sculptures and immersive installations, it challenges visitors to rethink the value of objects and the invisible lives behind famous histories. This fresh perspective on care, memory, and belonging enriches any cultural visit.

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