64 years ago

Cover of the book by Katharina Heider - students of Erwin Hahs working on a mural in 1949

The internet is a fascinating entity! Most recently, it has led to the discovery of a picture of Fritz 'in action' on the cover of a research works about the art academy Burg Giebichenstein that he attended. The interesting part is that it deals with exactly the time period when Fritz Stehwien was a student there (as well as Waltraude Barthold, later to become his wife). Author Katharina Heider discusses the challenges of the freedom, or lack thereof, of artistic expression during the communist post war era.

Book excerpt showing the fresco as a whole

What a very strange thought in today's western world: An artist forbidden to make art!
Or to be so restricted in what to paint, that one had to live in fear of self expression.

Recognizing Fritz Stehwien at work in this close-up scan

It should be interesting to read how this struggle to study and teach art 60 plus years ago, in the communist post-war political climate is perceived today. It would have been, or could be a great conversation to discuss some of these topics with former students. Sadly, many will have passed away by now, but some, including Waltraude Barthold-Stehwien still tells stories about the professors and studies at the Burg Giebichenstein in Halle/Saale, Germany in the late 1940s to early 1950s.