Global Collections

Stehwien and more, art collection at the Dinnendahl house in Melbourne, Australia

Season's Greetings to all family and friends! It's heartwarming to see how the Fritz Stehwien paintings are treasured around the globe. Fritz always loved to see how the works were incorporated into owner's surroundings. Some friends and family had their walls or offices full, while others treasure one or two favorites.

Eberhard, around 1950

A recent visit to our friend who helped us escape, and helped many many paintings survive the 40 plus years of communist government, revealed a large number of Stehwiens throughout the house. We are eternally grateful, Eberhard!!

Sketching Loved Ones

Solomon, who apparently never sat still, looking absolutely lovable!

Once in a while an email arrives from friends and family who are remembering when Fritz sketched their loved ones. Thank you for sharing these, as the database of 'If you own a Fritz Stehwien' continues to grow.

The next generation.
Young Thomas now has a portrait of his Papa Andy as a young boy in his room.

Relatives Edith & Peter visiting from far-away Canada, back in 1964

Hometown Halle

This year on October 3rd, most of the Stehwien family is celebrating 47 years in Canada - with many memories (and paintings!) created. Everyone is well established, although the old addage of “you can take the boy out of the country, but not the country out of the boy” still holds true.

Stehwien family hometown of Halle/Saale, 65 years ago. This oil on canvas painting was discovered to be on the back of the painting below.

The irony of the date of reunification of the two Germanys that have been home, is bittersweet:
October 3rd is the very day the family of six began the journey across the ocean to emigrate. Who would have thought that exactly 22 years later, there may not have been a reason to leave? 

 

Halle Trotha, Oil on canvas, 1949

An artist and his art within the art

Large oil painting of Oskar Barthold with two of his marionettes.

As another anniversary of immigrating to Canada approaches, thoughts have turned to Fritz's father-in-law, the late German puppeteer and artist, Oskar Barthold. When Fritz met his future wife at the art academy in Halle, in the late 1940s, she had been working with her father at his Marionettenbühne Halle, as they performed many puppet plays for adults and for children.
Read more here:
waltraudestehwien.blogspot.ca/

1940s marionettes, created by Oskar Barthold, linolcut by Fritz

More Barthold marionettes, sketched by Fritz Stehwien

Rediscovering old paintings of these marionettes is more than fascinating: It combines two very different artists in one and at the same time, serves as a record of how many puppets were part of the very successful theater. Only a few are still in the family's possession and they have quite a story to tell. The story of how they 'lived' and travelled all the way to Canada, escaping political turmoil in postwar Germany, certainly adds extra mystique to the marionettes and the works that depict them.

Reflections on Fritz's 101st birthday

As an established artist in Saskatoon, Canada

There are many self portraits in the archives - interesting to see and informative on the historical side of things. Certainly the 'starving artist' situation shines through. To today's generation, it may appear that the drive to create was overpoweringly strong - which it was - but the lack of materials comes through every bit as much. Almost amusing, although at the same time a bit heart breaking, to find some very good sketches on bad materials - tape marks, poor quality onion skin and even wrapping paper with advertising on it.

As a free lance artist in western Germany

As a new art academy graduate in eastern Germany

Not so cold in January

 On a recent trip to southern Germany, more research revealed the location of some favorite watercolours. For many years, it seemed like the idyllic old mills were of the one or two known ones in the area, but the visit resulted in some wonderful surprises.

A favorite watercolour of an old style mill.

Going for walk on green grass in January was one thing, but having an old school friend as a personal tour guide to help with the painting location research was even better.

On other visits, it was obvious that things were changing in the old neighborhoods, even the small river had been moved to run parallel to a major road. So the former old mills don't necessarily have the rivers running past them anymore. There are streets or parking lots instead. And much larger trees and bushes.

Fritz rarely labelled his paintings, so to find out that these watercolors are depicting the Daetzinger Getreidemuehle was quite exciting. As was finding it still standing, even though the village had expanded right up to it and the river has been relocated.

Visit to the Daetzinger Getreidemuehle in January 2015.

The same mill, which had not been apparent before this trip.