Today I received an e-mail from Sebastian Schuth, head of the archive of the Spandau City History Museum. Attached to it was a newspaper article from the Spandauer Volksblatt of 19 February 1972 (Archive signature IV C Z ZA PA 1038), written by a Uwe-Michael Troppenz, the title:
Segelboote für Millionäre und Vögel für sich selbst
(Sailboats for millionaires and birds for themselves)
Fritz Neumann: "Ich male am liebsten, was ich sehe ..."
(Fritz Neumann: "My favourite thing to paint is what I see ...")
The article is about the person who has been sought after here for years, the Spandau artist Fritz Neumann. The article has now revealed a few more details:
- Fritz Neumann was born in December 1897
- Studied at an art school from 1912 to 1916, where he also met his future wife Hedwig Neumann (born as Klinge)
- Was in Verdun during the First World War
- Managed an advertising studio afterwards
- Started his own business as a painter and etcher in 1930. (This can be roughly traced in the address books )
- Took part in World War 2 “from the very beginning”
We also learn that his wife published her works under her maiden name, Hede Klinge, even after their marriage. As well as the fact that he worked for the “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” - certainly after the First World War.
In addition to the stages of his life, the various motifs and places from which Neumann drew his inspiration are also discussed.
Origin and family
With this data, for example, an entry on Geneanet.org can be found, which allows the data to be narrowed down further:
- Full name: Franz Robert Fritz Neumann
- Date of birth: 6 December 1897
- Date of death: 8 June 1984
- Wife: Anna Hedwig Klinge
- Date of birth: 21 September 1895
- Date of death: 5 November 1980
- Wedding day 2 May 1925
- Parents:
- Ludwig Karl Franz Neumann, 1858-1933, (Letterpress) printer
- Clara Emilie Emma Wusterhausen, 1871-1942
- Brother: Wilhelm Franz Rudolf Neumann, 1901-
Connections to other articles
By the way, the name “Hede Klinge” already appears by pure luck in an older article about copyright entries , now it becomes obvious that it was not so coincidental.
And it is also clear that the Fritz Neumann from the Archiv der Reichskunstkammer is not “our” Fritz Neumann.
Update 24.10.2024
In the meantime, I have also received another reference from Torsten Steinberg: He sent me an extract from the death register . According to this, Fritz Neumann died on 8 June 1984 in the Havelhöhe Community Hospital in Berlin Spandau.
Documents
It was more of a chance discovery: While conducting a routine search for previously unrecorded works by Ric or Fritz Neumann, I came across this exhibition catalog by Fritz Neumann. The images from the last post included some information about the painting’s provenance.
Apparently, a sales exhibition of watercolors by Fritz Neumann took place from November 9, 1978, to January 2, 1979. The venue listed is the Siemenshaus at Salzufer 6–8 in Berlin. This is a former telephone factory (German).
Price List
| Nr. | Titel | Preis (DM) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schloß Charlottenburg | 340,– |
| 2 | Lützowufer | 340,– |
| 3 | Fließ in Lübars | 325,– |
| 4 | Baumruine (Pfaueninsel) | 300,– |
| 5 | Pfaueninsel | 325,– |
| 6 | Pfaueninsel | 325,– |
| 7 | Hundekehlensee | 300,– |
| 8 | Grunewaldsee | 325,– |
| 9 | Grunewaldsee | 325,– |
| 10 | Jagdschloß Grunewald | 300,– |
| 11 | Jagdschloß Grunewald (Winter) | 250,– |
| 12 | Belvedere | 225,– |
| 13 | Stößensee | 325,– |
| 14 | Pohlesee | 325,– |
| 15 | Schloß Charlottenburg (Winter) | 325,– |
| 16 | Jagdschloß Grunewald | 325,– |
| 17 | Gedächtniskirche | 325,– |
| 18 | Philharmonie | 325,– |
| 19 | Lietzensee mit Kirche | 325,– |
| 20 | Landwehrkanal | 340,– |
| 21 | Haveleck | 325,– |
| 22 | Scharfe Lanke | 325,– |
| 23 | Sonne an der Havel | 350,– |
| 24 | Spiegelnde Bäume (Haselhorst) | 225,– |
| 25 | Segler am Steg | 325,– |
| 26 | Landungssteg | 190,– |
| 27 | Sportseglerhafen | 340,– |
| 28 | Botanischer Garten | 195,– |
| 29 | Mühle auf Fehmarn | 350,– |
| 30 | Abendsonne | 225,– |
| 31 | Herbst am Bach | 225,– |
| 32 | Fischkutter am Kai | 185,– |
| 33 | Sturm | 185,– |
| 34 | Hafenwinkel | 325,– |
| 35 | Königsglanzstar | 160,– |
| 36 | Gelbkopfstärling | 160,– |
| 37 | Diamantstärling | 160,– |
| 38 | Pferdekopf | 225,– |
| 39 | Pferdekopf | 225,– |
Connections?
Some of the watercolors that helped clarify Fritz Neumann’s identity may also be on this list. For example, Charlottenburg Palace appears here as well.
Incidentally, the following works from the post are still available :
- Blick auf Haselhorst
- Zitadelle Spandau
- Am Tegeler Hafen
- Bootsanleger
- Dorfkirche Kladow
Short description: Painting of the Grunewald Hunting Lodge — specifically, the hunting equipment storage room — by Fritz Neumann.
Notes: The advertisement included a price list for a sales exhibition .
Short description: A etching of a single sailing yacht by Fritz Neumann.
Notes: Found on eBay
Short description: A etching of a pelicans by Fritz Neumann.
Notes: Found on eBay
Short description: Eine kolorierte Radierung von zwei Kookaburras von Fritz Neumann.
Anmerkungen: Von einem Leser eingereicht; gerahmt und in Fürth erworben.
Short description: A etching of a sunflower by Hedwig Klinge, wife of Fritz Neumann.
Notes: Found at a flea market in Hanover.
There is now a Wikipedia Article on the “Kunstverlag J.C. Blumenberg” , the publisher where many prints of Fritz Neumann and his wife published their works, in the German Wikipedia. It also includes images of the blind stamp to enable easier recognition (e.g. via Google Lens).
Thanks to all contributors for their help!
Short description: A set of 5 postcards by Fritz Neumann
Notes: Found on eBay
Short description: A colourised etching of a yacht anchored near a shoreline by Fritz Neumann.
Notes:
- Found on ebay
