Vita
Ernst Barlach
* January 2, 1870 in Wedel
† October 24, 1938 in Rostock
1870
On January 2, Ernst Barlach is born in Wedel near Hamburg, the first son of Johanna Luise Barlach and Dr. Georg Barlach. Today, his house of birth hosts Barlach Art Museum.
Geburtshaus in Wedel1871
Birth of the brother Hans
Ernst Barlach und sein Bruder Hans, 18771872
The Barlach family moves from Wedel to Schönberg in Mecklenburg. Birth of twin brothers Nikolaus and Joseph.
1877
The Barlach family moves to Ratzeburg. Today, the Ernst Barlach Museum is located inside the family house.
1877-1884 Wohnhaus in Ratzeburg1884
After the death of Barlach's father, the family returns to Schönberg. Ernst Barlach attends the secondary school there.
Barlach mit seiner Realschulklasse 18771888
Barlach becomes a student at Allgemeine Gewerbe Schule in Hamburg.
1891
Barlach relocated from Hamburg to Dresden, where he attended the lower and middle classes of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. From 1892 he became a master student of Robert Diez.
Ernst Barlach 18911894
As final piece for the academy in Dresden, the sculpture Krautpflückerin (Herb Picking Woman) is realized.
Die Krautpflückerin, Gips, 18941895
Barlach's first residency in Paris at the Julian Academy and publication of the book "Figürliches Zeichnen" ("Figurative Drawing").
Selbstbildnis, Kohle 18951897
Barlach's second residency in Paris. Afterwards he is working as an artist in Hamburg and Altona.
Ernst Barlach, Das Atelier in Paris, Kohle 18961898
Barlach participates in the "Great Berlin Art Exhibition" with "Krautpflückerin" and a grave relief. Four drawings are published in the magazine "Jugend". Together with sculptor and friend Karl Gabers he works on the pediment relief of Altona town hall. Literary attempts reflect the Parisian period and reach back to the Hamburg, Berlin and Wedel years.
Arbeit am Giebelfries des Altonaer Rathauses1899
Barlach's first stay in Berlin. Meeting with Reinhard Piper and Karl Scheffler.
Barlach in seinem Berliner Atelier 18991901
Return to his birth town Wedel. First attempts in writing dramas. Friendship with Karl Gabers and Julius Wohlers. Barlach works on small ceramics for the Mutz pottery factory in Altona.
Selbstbildnis mit Würfelbecher, Steinzeug Relief, 19021904
Barlach takes up a teaching position at the technical school for ceramics in Höhr-Grenzhausen/Westerwald. First exhibition of his ceramic works at the Kunstsalon Richard Mutz in Berlin. Barlach's friend, Reinhard Piper, founds the Piper publishing house in Munich.
Ernst Barlach, Hilf Dir selbst, Kohle 19041905
Barlach gives up his position as a teacher in Höhr-Grenzhausen and moves to Berlin for the second time.
1906
Out of a serious identity and life crisis Barlach travels to Russia. He visited Kiev, Kharkov, Pokatilovka, Konstantinovka, Karamatorovke, Belgorod and Bachmut with his brother Nikolaus via Warsaw. They visit brother Hans, who works as an engineer there. A large number of sketches are made. The results of this trip to Russia bring about a fundamental artistic new beginning. At the same time Rosa Limona Schwab gave birth to the son Nikolaus Barlach in Berlin.
Barlach und seine Brüder in Charkow1907
At the 13th exhibition of Berlin Secession, two of Barlach's terracottas produced by Richard Mutz, "Blind Russian Beggar" and "Russian Beggar Woman with Bowl", are exhibited with great success. Six time-critical drawings appear in "Simplicissimus".
Russische Bettlerin mit Schale, Keramik, 19061908
At the winter exhibition of Berlin Secession Barlach is represented with 7 sculptures and 20 drawings. First sculptural works in wood are realized, of which the "Shepherd in the Storm" is the first one to be acquired by a museum, Kunsthalle Bremen. Contract with the gallery owner Paul Cassirer, to whom Barlach leaves the distribution of his works against regular payments. After a legal dispute, Barlach is given custody of his son against the mother's will.
Ernst Barlach, Liegender Bauer, Porzellan 1908 © Foto Bernd Boehm1909
Barlach goes to Florence for 10 months on a Villa Romana scholarship and meets the poet and cosmopolitan Theodor Däubler. Appointed jury member of the Berlin Secession.
Ernst Barlach in der Toskana, 19091911
After his return from Florence, Barlach moves to Güstrow with his mother and son. A renovated horse stable becomes his studio. He begins work on the drama "The Easter People" later titled "The Poor Cousin".
Barlachs Atelier von 1911-19251912
Publication of the drama "Der Tote Tag" with 27 lithographs. Again contact with Theodor Däubler. Working on the "Diario Däubler" and the novel "Seespeck". Participates in the "2nd Sonderbund Exhibition" in Cologne, where his works are presented together with Edvard Munch.
Sonderbundausstellung 1912 © Rheinisches Bildarchiv Köln1914
Barlach is elected to the board of the "Freie Sezession". His works "Die Verlassenen" and "Wanderndes Paar" are represented at the first exhibition. Friendship with Friedrich Schult, who will look after Barlach's artistic estate from 1945 to 1976. Outbreak of the First World War on July 28. Barlach begins the "Güstrow Diary".
Ernst Barlach, Der heilige Krieg, Kohle, 19141915
Barlach volunteers for military service. He becomes a Landsturm soldier in Sonderburg/Schleswig and is released from military service after three months on the petition of the artists Liebermann, Gaul and Slevogt. He volunteers at a children's home in Güstrow.
Ernst Barlach im Kindertagesheim Güstrow 19151917
First retrospective exhibition of Barlach's work at the Salon Paul Cassirer with a lecture by Theodor Däubler. The actor Friedrich Kayßler reads from the drama "Der Tote Tag".
1919
Barlach is elected a full member of the Prussian Academy of Arts. He rejects teaching posts and honorary doctorates. World premiere of the dramas "Der arme Vetter" in Hamburg and "Der tote Tag" in Leipzig.
Uraufführung Der arme Vetter, Hamburger Kammerspiele 19191920
Death of his mother by suicide. Publication of the drama "Die echten Sedemunds".
Ernst Barlach, Grabmal Louise Barlach, Holz 19211922
Inauguration of Barlach's first memorial "The Mother of Pain" in Kiel's Nikolaikirche. The wooden relief burns in the Second World War. The drama "Der Findling" is published with 20 woodcuts.
Ernst Barlach, Kieler Ehrenmal, Holz 19221924
Barlach receives the Kleist Literature Prize. Participation in the "I. Universal German Art Exhibition" in Moscow, Saratov and Leningrad. Book edition of the drama "Die Sündflut" and premiere in Stuttgart.
1925
Beginning of friendship with Bernhard and his wife Marga Böhmer, Barlach's later life mate. Works on the drama "Baal", later "Der blaue Boll". Barlach becomes an honorary member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.
Marga Böhmer 19261926
Exhibition of wooden sculptures in Berlin at Cassirer with great success. World premiere of the drama "Der blaue Boll" in Stuttgart. Suicide of friend and gallery owner Paul Cassirer and even closer ties with Bernhard Böhmer, his assistant and future manager. Barlach moves into a new studio in a former car workshop in Güstrow. First sketches for the Güstrow memorial.
Barlachs Wohnzimmer 19261927
Barlach's first monumental sculpture, the "Güstrow Memorial", is given on display to the public in the Güstrow Cathedral.
Güstrower Ehrenmal, Bronze 1927 © photo Bernd Boehm1928
Publication of the autobiography "Ein selbsterzähltes Leben" and premiere of the drama "Der Findling" in Königsberg. The monumental sculpture "Geistkämpfer" is erected in front of the Nikolai Church in Kiel.
1929
Start of an german national smear campaign against Barlach after the erection of the memorial in Magdeburg. As a result, he withdraws designs for a monument in Malchin. Premiere of the drama "Die gute Zeit" in Gera.
Bei der Arbeit am Magdeburger Ehrenmal1930
On the occasion of his 60th birthday, huge exhibition of Barlach's work at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, further exhibitions in Essen, Kiel and Lübeck. The temporary installation of the first three monumental sculptures for the façade of St. Catherine's Church in Lübeck, especially the "Beggar on Crutches", provokes fierce criticism. His new studio in Güstrow is built. Contract with the art dealer Alfred Flechtheim for the bronze casting of older plaster models and the exhibition of 20 bronze sculptures in the Flechtheim Gallery in Berlin and Düsseldorf. In Weimar's museums, the state government founded in conjunction with the NSDAP carries out a first purge against undesirable art. It is under the slogan: "Weimar against Barlach tendency in art - fight against ostish and inferior race subhumanity".
Barlach mit Aristide Maillol vor der Galerie Flechtheim1931
Inauguration of the "Hamburg Memorial" against fierce protests from NSDAP politicians and accompanied by correspondingly negative press comments. Barlach moves into his new studio, but continues to live in Marga Böhmer's house. Bernhard Böhmer takes up residence in Barlach's house. Five works by Barlach are shown at the opening of Museum of Modern Art, New York. Jewish gallery owners, collectors and art sponsors of Barlach get into economic difficulties due to the increasing anti-Semitic politics in Germany and cannot keep their contracts with Barlach. Large commissions fall away and he finds himself in increasing financial difficulties.
Barlach vor dem Modell des Hamburger Ehrenmals1933
Seven days before Hitler's rise to power, Barlach speaks out against the restriction and ideological curtailment of artistic and intellectual freedom in Germany in his radio broadcast speech "Künstler zur Zeit". He is awarded the Peace Honour of the Order "Pour le mérite". He protests against the forced exclusion of Käthe Kollwitz and Heinrich Mann from the Academy of Arts and declines the invitation to become a board member of the National Socialist Artists' Association. The Magdeburg Cathedral Council requests the removal of the Magdeburg Memorial. Barlach withdraws his drafts for a memorial in Stralsund. Works by Barlach, including the "Lesender Klosterschüler" made of wood, are shown at the World's Fair in Chicago.
Ernst Barlach vor der Gertrudenkapelle in Güstrow1934
Participates in the "Juryfreie Berliner Kunstausstellung" in February, which is closed shortly after the opening. Barlach receives aid payments from the Academy of Arts. The "Magdeburg Memorial" is removed. Hermann F. Reemtsma takes over the commission for Barlach's "Fries der Lauschenden" previously cancelled by the Jewish entrepreneur Ludwig Katzenellenbogen due to financial and political difficulties. Barlach exhibition at the Kunsthalle Bern. The wooden relief "Die Verlassenen" is shown at the Venice Biennial. Barlach signs the " Aufruf der Kulturschaffenden" ("Call of the Culture Creatives") together with 36 other well-known artists, which advocates the merging of the offices of Reich Chancellor and Reich President in the person of Hitler.
Ernst Barlach vor dem Holz "Wanderer im Wind" im Atelier1935
Ernst Barlach completes the "Fries der Lauschenden". The staging of "Echte Sedemunds" at the Altona Theatre is cancelled by the National Socialists after a great success at the premiere and four further performances. The book "Ernst Barlach Drawings" is published by Piper Editions, Munich. The wooden sculpture "Das Wiedersehen" is confiscated from the collection of the Schwerin State Museum.
1936
The draft for the tomb of Theodor Däubler is rejected by the Reichsschrifttumskammer. The book "Ernst Barlach Drawings" is confiscicated. Barlach works on the novel "Der gestohlene Mond" and the figures "Der Flötenbläser"and "Der Buchleser". Among others, the works by Ernst Barlach and Käthe Kollwitz are removed from the jubilee exibition of the Prussian Academy of Arts. Barlach becomes an honorary member of the Vienna Secession and the Artists' Association of Austrian Sculptors.
65. Geburtstag von Ernst Barlach1937
The "Geistkämpfer" in Kiel and the Güstrow Memorial are removed and over 380 works by Ernst Barlach are confiscated from public collections in the Germany-wide "Degenerate Art" operation. At the exhibition of the same title in Munich, "Das Wiedersehen" and the volume "Zeichnungen" are demonstrated. Barlach receives a general exhibition ban and is forced to resign from the Prussian Academy of Arts. On a short trip to Schnega to visit Hugo Körtzinger, who will later hide the Kiel "Geistkämpfer" and a second cast from the Güstrow Memorial from the Nazis, Barlach also visits his home town of Ratzeburg. There he acquires his father's burial place until 2060. Barlach's health worsens considerably.
Abbruch des Geistkämpfers in Kiel1938
The Hamburg Senate decides to remove the "Hamburg Memorial" and has the stele in front of the town hall destroyed a year later. On October 24, Ernst Barlach dies in a private hospital in Rostock and is buried next to his father in the family grave in Ratzeburg on October 28. Memorial exhibition at the Buchholz Gallery in New York. The London protest exhibition in conjunction with the "Degenerate Art" exhibition entitled: "20th Century German Art" shows nine works by Ernst Barlach.
