Alfred Feudel (1882 - 1974)

Alfred Feudel (1882, Leipzig - 1974 Kappel)

I think the combination of blue and orange is what kept my eyes fixed

on this Ebay offered print longer than usual. And the nocturnal scene. The longer I watched it, the more I became fascinated by this charming composition. 

Here's some research:

Shown is the "Nikolaikirche" in Dortmund (Germany) signed by artist: A. Feudel. Alfred Feudel, the City of Dortmund's archive director Mrs. Andrea Zupancic wrote to me after requesting information. In return she asked for a good scan for her City Archives. Which she ofcourse received.

It's undoubtedly Christmass eve (the clock showing 23.30h) and a crowd is gathering and entering the church. The new church was inaugurated october 12th 1930. Alfreds print showing some trees in front so a guess it's around 1935. 

Alfred Feudel born 23.03.1882 in Leipzig and died 29.06.1974 in Kappel entered the "Akademie der Bildenden Künste" in Munich oktober 30th 1907 and joined the "Zeichenschule Karl Raupp". Professor Karl Raupp (1837-1918) allready aged 71 when young Alfred started his course. Raupp published a book on the theoretics of painting, "Handbuch der Malerei", which saw a 4th ed. in 1904, his paintings displayed in several German Museums. 

In 1918 Alfred married Elfriede Thurau, daughter of a well to do Berlin family and who, in later life, became quite famous as founder and later Professor of "Rhytmische Music" (Rhytmic Gymnastics), moving and training the human body on music. Mother of modern Aerobics I gather. (I imagine black and white pictures of boys and girls in strait lines swaying with large ribbons). Alfred joined the "Westfälische Künstlerbunde" in Dortmund in 1927.

So far I haven't found any examples of other works by Alfreds hand. Which is remarkable considering this delicately and very skillfully executed woodblock print.

The Nicolai Kirche is a very early example of Das Neue Bauen. Build by archeticts Pino & Grund after winning a designing competition. It is the first steel, glas and cement/concrete build church in Germany located in Dortmund's "Kreuzviertel" close to the cities center. Dortmunds old city was destroyed 96% (!) in WW2. The church was also severely bombed and damaged but rebuild and with its 6 meters high, blue shining cross a dominating Dortmund landmark to this day.The revolutionary design was internationally praised and appreciated. 

Kreuzung Wittekindstrasse X Lindemannstrasse ca. 1935

For any further reading see : http://www.nicolai-kirche.de/

Alfreds interpretation is architecturally so accurate and detailed (compare the rooftops in the background) that I even suggest the stars could be correctly placed in the night sky too. Do I recognize Ursus Major to the left and Casiopeia in the right corner ? They are winterconstellations. And if that's Orion visible in the right upper corner (North-East) it might prove me right.