DOI Heft:
No. 68 (November 1898)
DOI Artikel:Studio-talk
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19230#0150
Studio-Talk
" ESCHENALLEE" BY HANS VON VOLKMANN
the delicately restrained harmony of tone affected Only one painter, indeed, has succeeded in pro-
by contemporary painters like Maris. H. Vogeler, during for the Exhibition a work of a more strik-
a member of the Worpsweder Society, has contri- ingly impressive nature than this. I refer to Hans
buted a country scene of rare merit. A glance at von Volkmann, of Karlsruhe. In the course of
this picture conjures up all the magic of the early the last few years this artist has repeatedly attracted
spring, when, listening to the songs of birds, we attention at the various excellent exhibitions with
gaze with delight on the first tender leaves just which the people of Karlsruhe have delighted us,
beginning to hide the wintry bareness of the trees, and I do not think I am far wrong in venturing to
A fairy Princess—or is it an earthly maiden ?—robed see in his work a decorative talent of exceptional
in a light violet garment, hovers hither and thither power. Volkmann seeks his subjects amid scenes
through a maze of young birch trees—which, by with which he is thoroughly acquainted, scenes
the way, are considerably too small to be in proper whose lines, colours, and sounds have entered into
proportion to the figure. his spirit. The simplest subject, which to the
- ordinary eye is completely devoid of charm, has
A noteworthy picture, which at first sight repels peculiar attractions for him, for he possesses the
and yet attracts, is that of Ferdinand Hodler gift of being able to endow it with artistic life. It
(Geneva) which he has entitled Night. It looks is just that power which marks the true artist—the
like an illustration to some part of Dante's " In- power of discovering the beautiful, not in the
ferno." Naked human figures, which suggest that extraordinary events of life, but in matter-of-fact,
the artist had taken Signorelli for a model, lie everyday occurrences,
asleep in various attitudes on the ground, while,
crouching over them, are ghostly black-draped Volkmann's motifs are, indeed, of the simplest,
figures visiting them in their dreams and slowly One picture, for instance, shows us a meadow with
pressing the breath out of their bodies. The a deep blue sky overhead. In the midst-of the
exceptional skill with which the artist has conveyed rich green of the grass is a small pond, its blue-
his conception to the canvas greatly intensifies tinged surface gently stirred by the passing breeze,
the impressive character of the idea itself, and A road borders the meadow and its course is
places the work on a very high level. marked by a row of trees planted at regular inter-
im
" ESCHENALLEE" BY HANS VON VOLKMANN
the delicately restrained harmony of tone affected Only one painter, indeed, has succeeded in pro-
by contemporary painters like Maris. H. Vogeler, during for the Exhibition a work of a more strik-
a member of the Worpsweder Society, has contri- ingly impressive nature than this. I refer to Hans
buted a country scene of rare merit. A glance at von Volkmann, of Karlsruhe. In the course of
this picture conjures up all the magic of the early the last few years this artist has repeatedly attracted
spring, when, listening to the songs of birds, we attention at the various excellent exhibitions with
gaze with delight on the first tender leaves just which the people of Karlsruhe have delighted us,
beginning to hide the wintry bareness of the trees, and I do not think I am far wrong in venturing to
A fairy Princess—or is it an earthly maiden ?—robed see in his work a decorative talent of exceptional
in a light violet garment, hovers hither and thither power. Volkmann seeks his subjects amid scenes
through a maze of young birch trees—which, by with which he is thoroughly acquainted, scenes
the way, are considerably too small to be in proper whose lines, colours, and sounds have entered into
proportion to the figure. his spirit. The simplest subject, which to the
- ordinary eye is completely devoid of charm, has
A noteworthy picture, which at first sight repels peculiar attractions for him, for he possesses the
and yet attracts, is that of Ferdinand Hodler gift of being able to endow it with artistic life. It
(Geneva) which he has entitled Night. It looks is just that power which marks the true artist—the
like an illustration to some part of Dante's " In- power of discovering the beautiful, not in the
ferno." Naked human figures, which suggest that extraordinary events of life, but in matter-of-fact,
the artist had taken Signorelli for a model, lie everyday occurrences,
asleep in various attitudes on the ground, while,
crouching over them, are ghostly black-draped Volkmann's motifs are, indeed, of the simplest,
figures visiting them in their dreams and slowly One picture, for instance, shows us a meadow with
pressing the breath out of their bodies. The a deep blue sky overhead. In the midst-of the
exceptional skill with which the artist has conveyed rich green of the grass is a small pond, its blue-
his conception to the canvas greatly intensifies tinged surface gently stirred by the passing breeze,
the impressive character of the idea itself, and A road borders the meadow and its course is
places the work on a very high level. marked by a row of trees planted at regular inter-
im