Ruth Laube, unknown German printmaker.

Ruth Laube

(active 1920-1930)

German woodblock printmaker and book illustrator. 
(Possibly active in the Nidden Artist Colony in Lithuania) 

Until last week I knew of just one print by this mysterious printmaker who's signature in Sütterlin (or old/Gothic German handwriting) is as difficult to read for modern Germans as it is to me. The "Fractur" or "Gothic" typographic (printed) script is somewhat easier but nevertheless, almost forgotten by most modern Germans. It was in use from the 16th century until WW 2. Collecting pre-WW2 prints however it is impossible to turn away from it. 

Sütterlin: Gothic handwriting 

Fractur: typographic or Gothic printing script 

For that reason I was very pleased (with myself), as a Dutchman, to be able to decipher the signature (Ruth and not Rolf Laube) and recognizing the printmakers style + monogram RL in this second print by her that I've discovered recently. 

The other one I've found some time ago in the collection of Wolfgang, a friendly and modest German collector, who provided me with this piece of extra information, the frame makers label: Conrad Klein, Heilsberg, Ost-Preußen. (In theory, when so few prints are found, there is a slight chance she might gave been perhaps only locally known. Conrad Klein, the frame maker, is mentioned in the 1936 Heilsberg Sensus but sadly no Laube family. My print was framed in Berlin. 

         

Heilsberg (now Lidzbark Warmiński in Poland) situated south of the old artistic and academic centre of Köningsberg (now Kalilingrad) not far from the Nidden Artist Colony in the Kurische Nehrung (Courtland Spit) the strip of sand and high dunes situated along the coast with Lithuania. 
(Where Lovis Corinth (1858-1921) taught and Köningsberg Art Academy trained printmaker Daniel Staschus (1872-1953) and his wife Paula participated. They later moved to Munich where with Martha Cunz (1876-1961) and Hans Neumann (1873-1957) they became the most important color woodblock printmakers). Probably printmaker L.E.M (Margarete) Gerhardt (1873-1955) was in the colony too.    

In the course of my ongoing research on pioneering German women printmakers born between 1860 en 1900 Ruth Laube is probably the least known  printmaker among the 140 (!) I'm constantly investigating. The name Ruth Laube in the Internet is also pointing to America, but then: hords of German families emigrated to the New World between 1850-1950.

And there's this 1930 book: "Vom Deutschen Glauben" with two original woodblock illustrations by Ruth Laube. One is shown above

Until the book on these women printmakers is publishable I've decided revealing in the Blog the most difficult and obscured of "my" printmaking ladies. Sooner or later this posting will be picked up by some one who knows more, as has happened regularly before. Therefore all information and comments on Ruth Laube are most welcome. 

Elisabeth von Oertzen

Elisabeth von Oertzen

(1887- 1954)

German landscape, animal and portrait painter

Printmaker.

Recently this woodblock print of a pair of red budgerigars (german: Rote Sittiche) came up on Ebay. 

They are actually two male Australian King Parrots (Alisterus Scapularis) at least according to this Wiki-photograph showing both sexes. They nevertheless seem to have a more then friendly relationship. The animal kingdom never ceases to amaze. 

The print is stylish strongly reminiscent of the early parrots (Ara's) prints created by Martin Erich Philipp (1887-1978) in 1908 and 1924. He did 7 different parrots prints (see my MEPH catalogue in the pages buttons) in his long career. 

Trying to find information on the Internet no further examples were to be found but digging a bit deeper I've found some interesting biographical and historical facts about this van Oertzen family that maybe will help unveil some more details Hopefully more examples of this hardly known and today obscured artist will turn up.

The family residence:  Rattey House some 80 Km. north of Berlin.

She was born in 1887 as a descendant of the von Oertzen, Gut (= house of) Rattey branch, in an old aristocratic, intellectually, military and politically important and influential family. She married 1913 Ulrich von Oerzten a relative from another branch of the same family tree. 

Her sister Augusta von Oertzen, the later journalist, was one of the first German women earning a university degree (doctorate in philosophy) in 1918 in Germany. She also has a namesake: Elisabeth von Oertzen-von Thadden (1860-1944) who was a German provincial writer.

Their son Hans Ulrich was born in 1915, the same year her husband Ulrich died in Flanders Fields in one of the battles at the Somme. Hans Ulrich von Oertzen in 1944 just before being arrested by the Gestapo committed suicide after being caught in the German resistance attempt, Operation Valkyrie together with count Claus von Staufenberg (1907-1944), to assassinate Adolph Hitler. The attempt failed. Elisabeth's biography obviously not one of the happiest stories, there's even more to come. 

After the untimely death of her Brother Henning, in 1928, Elisabeth (Else) had to give up the family house and property of Rattey in 1931 (it's now a luxury Hotel) moving with her son to Berlin where she was a member and a board member of the Verein der Berliner Künstlerinnen 1916-1935 and director of the painting and drawing school of the VdBK. Making her acquainted with many other Berlin based illusive printmaking artists like Marianne von Buddenbrock (?) Else von Schmiedeberg-Blume (1876, after 1927), Margarete L.E. Gerhardt (1873- ), Meta Cohn-Hendel (1883- ), Hélène Mass (1871- ), Käthe Kolwitz (1867-1945), Erna Halleur ( - 1940), Auguste Lind-Graf (-1941), Eva Maria Marcus (1889-1970) and a great  many other artists.

It is said Else von Oerzten was personally encouraged by the last German Empress Augusta Victoria (1858-1921) wife of Emperor Wilhem II (1859-1941). Wilhelm was the grandson of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Augusta granddaughter of Victoria's half-sister Feodora (1807-1872), the marriage was arranged.   

It is also mentioned that Else von Oertzen was particularly interested in painting Zoo animals, like the parrots in the print above. Which must have pleased her teacher in München Leo Freiherr von König (1871-1949). 


According to his wonderful "Sleeping Tiger" he also favoured  visiting and painting in the Zoo. Von Köning himself a student of the Academie Julian in Paris was, together with Lovis Corinth (1858-1925) and Max Liebermann (1847-1935), one of the founders of the Berliner Secession. 

 Left: Lovis Corinth,     Right: Max Liebermann

Else von Oertzen exhibited in Berlin 1928 and travellled to France and Britain to paint and study.

I invite readers who are able and willing to add information and share possibly more examples of her art. The other German printmakers mentioned will be featuring in planned postings soon or have been treated before, like Margarete  L.E.M. Gerhardt (here*) and (here*) and Else Schmiedeberg-Blume (here*) or follow the labels added to this posting.

Else Zinkeisen (I) River Elbe

Else Zinkeisen

(born 1871 Hamburg)

German woodblock printmaker. 

(I): River Elbe 

Today, again, an Ebay induced posting on a printmaker I’d never heard of before leading to some great discoveries and other fine artists. This above “Boote bei Sonnenuntergang” (Boats at sunset) undoubtedly are sailing in the Elbe estuary and came up for auction recently. 

"Fischer Boote auf der Elbe" and "Wolken über der Elbe". 

Other than the fact Else Zinkeisen was taught privately until 1899 and that she has been a member of the “Heikendorfer Künstlerkolonie” my research  turned   up absolutely nothing. But luckily a small but fine collection of her prints is kept in the “Künstlermuseum Heikendorf" at the Kieler Förde.  

Left: Else Zinkeisen, Right: Oscar Droege, (same?) dwellings along river Elbe.

The Kieler Förde, an inlet of the Baltic sea, North West of Hamburg in Germany's most Northern and beautiful province of Schleswick-Holstein. Sheltered and strategically situated along the busy trade route between North-Western Europe, Scandinavia, Denmark and the Baltic States. Not one of these prints I could locate outside this Museum: a well hidden treasure of prints of what has to be one of the earliest German Modern Printmakers.

 The Elbe River downstream North of Hamburg seen from the Ice-age,
glacier formed East bank ridge by Friedrich Kallmorgen (1856-1924)

Man made Elbe dikes by painter Friedrich Wilhelm Schwinge (1852-1913)

The artist colony sprang up in the 1920's around the house and studio of painter Heinrich Blunk (1891-1963) and it is one of the very few buildings remaining after WWII devastations. Kiel and its surroundings, like Hamburg in 1943, was almost completely destroyed by allied bombs because of its marine and submarine bases. The artists’ studios are gone but the House and Gardens survived, now housing the Museum.

Where we meet another great member of the colony: Oscar Droege (1898-1983) also born in Hamburg (but 25 years after Else Zinkeisen) and perhaps Germany’s most famous and certainly most prolific printmaker. Many of his (I count over a 100) prints featuring Hamburg and the river Elbe.

Painter Georg Burmester (1864-1936) was among them, very much influenced by Vincent van Gogh and  later to become a professor in Kassel art academie. He painted the surrounding  Schleswick land- and seascapes 

Along the North German coast, to the East the sister  "Niddener Künstkolonie" thrived. You can find similar prints of typical Baltic fishing and trading boats  by members Margarethe (L.E.M.) Gerhardt (1873-) and Daniel Stachsus (1872-1953). Max Pechstein and Lovis Corinth lived there.

This print by Else Zinkeisen is showing river fishing boats in the small tranquil  village and fishing  port of Altweder. Just opposite, on the other (West) side of river Elbe, of the mighty city of Hamburg. And situated in a wonderful ancient  and rural landscape. Below a photograph from about the time Else was there. 

A situation painted (below) by Friedrich Wilhelm Schwinge (1852-1913), my favorite  painter of the Frisian and Schleswick landscape (see also above).

And as it was recorded in one of the very last moments of it's existence (above) on photo. The fate that struck the village of Altweder has frightful similarities with the Dutch village of Blankenberg (50 years before) I wrote about in my earlier posting:  Blankenburg (link). It's the inevitabillity of progress: it can’t be stopped. It's all gone. Forever.

The Scottish sisters and artists Anna and Doris Zinkeisen are not (directly) related to Else. Anna Zinkeisen who designed several London Underground posters in the 1920-30’s and her Scottish family of timber traders have a 200 year Scottish history leading back to Silesian ancestry.

Next: some more prints and history by Else Zinkeisen.

Margarete Gerhardt (continued) and Helène Mass

Lina Elisabeth Margarete Gerhardt

(Frankfurt a/d Oder 1873 Berlin 1958)

painter and wood/lincut printer 

After some detective work new information about Margarethe Gerhardt came to me from friendly contact Thomas in Berlin.



Margarethe was born Jan. 8th 1873 in Frankfurt an der Oder and was trained in Berlin at the Schule der Berliner Künstlerinnen (Berlin Women Art School and Institute esth. in 1869). One of her teachers was influential and important Dora Hitz (1856-1924) friend and colleague of Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) one of Germanies most important artists.


Dora Hitz: Mädchen im Mohnfeld (Girl in field of poppies)

Margarethe traveled in Europe and received further training in Italy and in Paris. She was a member of many Berlin Art Institutions and was even appointed member of the board of the school where she was trained: in 1930, 1933 and 1936 probably until WW2 broke out. In addition to the earlier posting here are a painting (view on the Wannsee, probably around 1910-1920) and a picture from the van der Grinten Collection of a linocut print. The very nice oil painting is for sale at 400€. 

Margarethe (L.E.M.) Gerhardt, oil painting

Margarethe exhibited at the Grosser Berliner Kunstausstellung (Great Berlin Art Exhibition) with paintings and wood- and linocut prints in 1922, 1926, 1928 and 1933. After her death in 1958 an in memoriam exhibition was held in her honor in Berlin by her former School and Institute.

Helene Mass, oil painting

Among her fellow board members I found printer Helène Mass (1871-?) It is assumed she died during WW2. I found this nice oil painting (it's for sale on Ebay, modestly priced, might you consider to hang it) by her and in addition to the excellent postings and discussions by Charles (Modern Printmakers and Clive (Art and the aesthete: this Blog is sadly discontinued). Links to these Blog postings you'll find below. This is a good opportunity showing three new examples of her woodblock prints.

(from the van der Grinten collection)

Imagine listening to Beethoven's 6th symfony and looking at these merry musicians coming from the woods after the thunderstorm.

Another board member and colleague of Margarethe and Helène was Auguste Lind-Graf. The haystack in this nice print below is probably situated at the Ostsea, maybe the peninsula "kurische Nehrung".  I couldn’t find any biographical facts about her, but what nice colors.

http://gerrie-thefriendlyghost.blogspot.com/2011/04/margarethe-gerhardt.html 
http://haji-b.blogspot.com/2010/10/helene-mass.html
http://haji-b.blogspot.com/2010/11/helene-mass-four-more-woodcuts.html

Margarete Gerhardt

L.E. Margarete Gerhardt

(Frankfurt a/d Oder 1878- Berlin 1958)

German landscape painter etcher and blockprint artist.


(This posting has been updated on july 4th 2011)

Most print print lovers and collectors will recognize this fine print of sailing boats in the Baltic. The makers signature however, L.E. Marg. Gerhardt, orig. Schnitt Handdruck, not all that easy to read, even from the original. My attempts to identify the artist by way of the Internet failed. Sofar.

Above typicle Baltic or Ostsee sailing vessels. Daniël Staschuss (1872-1953) also depicted these ships on woodblock prints from the town of Nida (Nidden) when he and his artist wife lived there in the artist colony.

Searching on the Internet I stumbled upon a second print, of a farm house with the same signature. 

Margarethe was born 1873 in Frankfurt a.d. Oder  Lina Elisabeth Margarete Gearhardt dr. of Carl August Friedrich G. and Rosa Dorothea Bach. She was trained a teacher at the Königliche Luisenschule, a private and elite school in Berlin, which had a very good reputation for teaching art and music.

She studied landscape painting with landscape painter Wilhelm Feldmann (1859-1932), and later also in etching with graphic artist and master etcher Hermann Struck (1876-1944) who taught also German impressionist painter Max Liebermann (1847-1935) and Marc Chagall (1887-1985). Both artists rising to global fame.

(Brooklyn Bridge N.Y. 1922, by teacher Hermann Struck)

Writing this posting and again searching old auction catalogues I found a third block print. Sold in 2010. Of the old bridge in Limburg-an-der-Lahn (above). The scene today is somewhat different. The building on the left is gone but was still there in 1911 (see the old postcard) and survived WW-I. It whitnesses how acurate Margarethe was with the carving knife. The medieval house was probably destroyed in WW-II as was the bridge (build 1315!) which has been rebuild. Hopefully more examples of Margarethes block prints will show up in future.