Käthe Kollwitz: Woman and Artist

by Martha Kearns

   A genration after her death, German artist Kathe Kollwitz is winning a reputation as one of the great graphic artists of the 20th Century. Concentrating on the more "democratic" media-especially etchings, lithographs, posters, and woodcuts, as well as sculpture and bronze reliefs-Kollwitz always created for the people, rather than for the upper class collector. Unlike the volputuous odalisques so often depicted by male artists, Kollowitz's women are joyous or grief stricken, thoughtful or shielding mothers; forlorn, pregnant, widows; tender friends; prostitutes; militant pacifists or revolutionaries in action. In her sensitive narrative, Martha Kearns establishes Kollwitz's contributions to western art, and especially to women's art. This original paperback is generously illustrated with many striking, seldom-see reproductions from private collections, assembled in one volume for the first time.

Genres: Art, Biography, Germany, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1976

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother and Child, 1900

This is a very compelling biography of the German artist Kathe Kollwitz. She lived from 1867 to 1945, dying just two weeks before the end of the war in Europe.

The author uses several poignant quotations from the diaries of Kathe Kollwitz who poured her strong emotions into her journal and also her art. It would seem that she was not as expressive with her family and friends. A large part of her art work consisted of lithographs like etchings, graphics – and also after World War I she made sculptures.

Kathe Kollwitz’s art was always imbued with a message. Her husband was a doctor who treated the downtrodden residents of Berlin – many of them poor women with their children. She made their despair and anguish a strong feature of her work. Much of her art is very women-centric, but it is not romantic portrayals; rather it emphasizes the sorrow and struggle encountered by poverty-stricken women.



Woman with Dead Child, 1903


When her son Peter died in World War I she was devastated and worked for several years on a sculpture for parents whose children had died in the war. “The Grieving Parents” was unveiled in the Belgian cemetery of Roggevelde where her son was buried, in 1932.

She became a complete pacifist and socialist, but never joined the communist party. She despised the Nazis, who banished her art, when they came to power.

Kathe Kollwitz lived a full life. Her parents and husband always encouraged her artistic endeavours – rare for that time period. She did a great deal of traveling and hiking, and met many independent women like herself.

This book is an intense emotional examination of this very strong and thoughtful woman.

Page 198- 99 (my book)
The memorial begun for Peter had grown to encompass all the victims of war. It had been the most difficult trial of Kollwitz’ life. Despite her meager knowledge of sculpture at the outset, despite her almost continual doubt and insecurity over the seventeen years devoted to it, the memorial was accomplished. She had kept her vow to Peter.

Page 200
They were the solemn gatekeepers, the bereaved guardians of the young men before them. The sculpted parents were one with the still crosses, in silent communion.

[the crosses were removed, as the picture below show]







Grieving Parents


As a note I would like to point out that I did not find the reproductions of the art of Kathe Kollwitz to be of very good quality in this book. It did not even feature “The Grieving Parents”.

[David Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really found this an inspirational read. Kaethe Kollwitz struggled with many things in her life, like whether to get married, how to get out from under the influence of her father while still pleasing him, the German state's refusal to honor or employ a woman, the death of her child and grandchild, two world wars, the rise of the Nazis, the effects of her disfavor from the Nazis, not to mention depression, anxiety, and other physical ailments. And through it all she wanted to work, and wanted to share her art, for the benefit of the people. She showed the world a lot about basic humanity, dignity, yearning for peace, mourning, and confronting inhumanity and death.

One criticism of this book has been that it doesn't contain enough images of the art. But that can be found online these days. The story of Kollwitz' life makes this book extremely worthwhile.

[Robert Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic biography of double war time female German artist. She specialized in etching, lithography and sculpting. Majority of award winning works featured the struggles of the lower classes(mostly women and children. Especially liked the format of the book, author's text alternating with subject's comment

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mostly readable recounting of Kollwitz's life and work. Frustrating to have works described but not illustrated. Helpful to have a feminist writer look at Kollwitz's accomplishments as a woman artist, for women and for the working class.

I'd recently seen a movie that left me with questions; only some were answered by this book. So there must be more detail out there.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love.