Else Zinkeisen revisited: more Elbe fishing boats

Zinkeisen, Else

(Hamburg 27-08-1871 - ?)

Hamburg painter and printmaker. 

Harbored Elbe fishing boats drying sails. 

Belonging to the group of pioneer German women printmakers Else is almost at the end of my alphabetical research list: only Olga von Zitsewitz and Bertha Züricher to follow last. She came to mind when reader Tom (see before posting) has send me another print probably losing its makers signature, for sharing. An educated guess (the use of color, the way the horizon is done and the rather simply cut outlines of the vessels) would be Else Zinkeisen (After "eliminating" possibles:  Carl Thiemann, and Josephine Siccard Redl (both traveled and printed Venice lagune ships in evening settings) and Margarete (L.E.M.) Gearhardt but she was active in the Nidden Art colony in the Baltic).  

She is printmaker about whom I know so very little (*). I've shown her before in the Blog and I am confident eventually more about her identity and biography will be revealed and cleared up. With the help of readers. She clearly had a fascination for these Elbe ships so for that reason they are shown here together again. Seen from some height, looking down, suggests in some views she sat near the village of Blankenese (maybe lived there?). That lovely and picturesque spot adjacent to the bustling city and harbour of Hamburg I plan showing, artistically, in next posting.    

What I do know: 

Else was a member of the “Heikendorfer Künstler Kolonie” that sprang up around the house and studios of Heinrich Blunk (1898-1963) at the Kieler Forde, not far from Hamburg. Printmaker Oscar Droege (1898-1983) was a member (later becoming professor in Kassel) and painter Georg Burmeister (1864-1936). She followed private painting lessons in Hamburg and in Berlin with professor Franz Skarbina (1849-1910), in Munich with Angelo Jank (1868-1940). She studied also at prestigious Academie Colarossi in Paris and was professionally active in Hamburg around the 1920's. An expensive artistic  education and training for a girl in those days an indication for a (very) well to do background. 

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Some random biographical notes concerning artistic Zinkeisen families: 

(*) Else  could be related to Dr. Eduard Zinkeisen a pharmacists who in 1849 founded a successful and in Paris awarded mineral water company in Hamburg. Probably succeeded in the company by a namesake (his son?) Eduard Zinkeisen into the XXth century.  

(*) Gabrielle Zinkeisen (b. Dresden 1879), a painter and color woodblock printmaker (I've never seen an example) who also happened to study with Franz Skarbina in Berlin according to Thieme Becker Lexikon. She had a painting sister Gertrud (b. 1877). 

(*) Anna (b.1901) and Doris (b.1898) Zinkeisen, British/Scottish sisters, painters and stage designers. Their father Victor Z. a timber merchant originated from a Bohemian family that settled in Scotland in the 18th century. 

All pictures borrowed freely from the internet for friendly, educational and non commercial use only. 

   

Eva Roemer: Stormy Seas

Up on Ebay this week this stunning Eva Roemer (1889-1977) Stormy Sea. Great to hang next to Arthur Rigden Read (1879-1955). Seven days to rob a bank or put your money where your mouth is. I've spend this month's budget on a pair of budgies so it's all yours. Added info: this print was sold soon after this posting went on air). 

But for consolation here (added later) are some other great examples of artists who also were impressed and inspired by the stormy seas. 

Uehara Konen (1878-1940)

 Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) 1834

 Hiroshige (1749-1858) 1853

Oscar Droege (1898-1982) very prolific German printmaker did many woodblock prints of the sea, calm and stormy. For every one roaming and combing the beach the mirroring effect of the back wash of the waves in last print is very realistic and skillfully executed. Droege was a keen observer living all his life near the North sea in Hamburg.

G

Clarence Alphonse Gagnon (Canadian, 1881 - 1942) "Heavy Sea". A neglected and hardly ever seen master piece by this Canadian painter. Besides trhe many paintings I know of only one other print by Gagnon. 

Bror Julius Nordfelt (Am. 1878-1953) who had his finest woodblock printing year in 1906 as we'll see later.

Last but not least: Matthew Brown (American b.1958) New Hampsire printmaker in the Japanese tradition combining, tributing and connecting the classic (foamy waves Hiroshige) and the modern (rocks Droege, gulls Neumann). The wink at Hans Neumann (right) in perticular is very  charming. 

All pictures borrowed freely for friendly, educational, intellectual  non commercial use from the www.

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.

Schöne Dinge

With todays posting I share with you some very nice prints from the collection and stock of Thomas Treibig from gallery Schöne Dinge ("Beautiful Things") in Berlin. 

Theodor Barth

(1875-1949) 

Swiss painter and printmaker

I could not find much if anything on this artist but this painting (1917) that obviously stood model for the print. A very remarkable, desirable and skilfully executed rare print.

Oscar Droege

(1898-1982)
German printmaker

Two very nice and desirable examples of this most famous and very prolific German printer. He created over a 100 prints. Not all to my taste but these definitely are ! (and comparing recent Ebay prices: affordably priced !)

August Heitmüller

(1873-1935)

German (portrait) painter and woodblock printer

A very remarkable composition and rare print by this painter .

Erich Buchwald-Zinnwald

(1884-1972)

German woodblock printer

See for more prints, details and biography in this printer Clive's Art and the Aesthete. A very desirable alpine landscape. 

Erna Halleur

(? -1940)

German woodblock printer 

Erna Halleur

Martin Erich Philipp

Very rarely prints by this printer are seen on the market (the most recent one was sold at a staggering 360 € + 20% auction fee: approx. $700). This one has some Martin Erich Philipp feel to it and it's big, very sunny in good condition and most of all modestly priced.

Auguste Lind-Graf
(1878-1941)

(Berlin educated and based artist, 
colleague and contemporate of Margarethe Gerhardt)

Auguste Lind-Graf

Karl Johne
German (or Czech) printmaker

Karl Johne  

Frances Gearhardt

Not much is known about this printmaker which is hard to believe seeing this nice landscape so reminding of American printer Frances Gearhardt's (1869-1958) landscapes. Details on Karl Johne's biography and more examples of his prints are very much welcomed (this print however is already sold).

Toshi Yoshida 

(1911-1995)
Japanese woodblock printer 

'Winter" from his series "Birds of the Seasons"
(thank you Klaus !)

Leonard Fanto 

(1874-1958)
Austrian stage and custume designer
and woodblock print maker

Only a handfull of Fanto's woodblock prints are generally seen. This one is great, a very intens portrait. 

Jenny Marion-Roth
(?)

German lithograph printer

 Lithograph
More details on her life and work would be most welcome.


Eva Maria Marcus
(1889-1970)
German, Berlin based, painter and printmaker

This last print from Berlin a stunning and complex flower bouguet. It is not for sale (...) as it belongs to Thomas personal collection. It's one of the nicest flower bouguet prints I've ever seen, rivaling many and even the greatest flower printers in number of colorblocks used and complexity. Below is her Sea Pines in colour. It would be nice to learn of more examples. The Metropolitan Museum in New York has prints by E.M.Marcus in it's collections but sadly no colour pictures are available. 

From Thomas' collection I was allowed sharing these two no doubt rare oil paintings by Eva Marcus. It is known she travelled often to Sweden and I think the second one is showing a typical Swedish coastal scene. Great colours.

Thank you Thomas for making these rare prints available for showing and sharing in the Linosaurus. Most of them are for sale in his gallery "Schöne Dinge" in Berlin. You can contact him for information and questions through his website. 
I have to inform readers that his 3 Eva Roemer prints from last post are since sold. Congratulations to the undoubtedly proud and happy new owner.

Thomas warmly welcomes any offers of work by Eva Maria Marcus.