Here stands a plaque. It commemorates the Geburtshaus von Elise Lensing. Who was Elise Lensing?
Elise Lensing was more than just a name. She was a friend and benefactor. She was the lover of Christian Friedrich Hebbel. He is known as one of the great dramatists. This plaque honors her life.
Maria Dorothea Elisabeth Lensing was born in 1804. Her birthplace was Lenzen an der Elbe. She died in Hamburg in 1854. Lensing supported Hebbel financially. She did so as much as she could.
Lensing’s early life took her from Lenzen to Hamburg. Her mother remarried a carpenter. He was also a shipbuilder. The family moved to Hamburg in 1830. After training in Magdeburg she later moved to Hamburg, too.
Elise met Friedrich Hebbel in 1835. He rented a room in her stepfather’s house. Hebbel was 22. Elise was 30. She worked as a teacher. Later, she inherited money. This gave her some independence.
Hebbel moved out after six weeks. He wanted to avoid gossip. However, Elise had already fallen for him. She loved the struggling writer.
Hebbel expressed his feelings in writing. He acknowledged Elise’s kindness and love. He hoped his future wife would feel the same. Their relationship led to two sons. Max died young. Ernst also died young.
Life in Hamburg was hard for Hebbel. He felt the terrible depths of existence. He left Hamburg to study law in Heidelberg. This did not fulfill him. He abandoned his studies.
Hebbel traveled to Munich. He aimed for a doctorate in philosophy. He depended on Elise’s support. Poverty and illness plagued him. In 1839, he returned to Hamburg. He was exhausted and broke.
Hebbel stayed with Elise for four more years. His financial situation did not improve. In 1842, he received a stipend from the Danish King. This allowed him to travel. He visited Paris, Rome, Naples and Vienna.
Hebbel eventually married Christine Enghaus in Vienna. She was an actress. He finally found stability. This freed him to write. This marriage deeply affected Elise. She had been his rock for years.
Christine Enghaus helped reconcile Elise and Hebbel. In 1847, Elise visited them in Vienna. She stayed for over a year. The two women became friends. Christine gave her son Carl to Elise. Elise raised him in Hamburg. Carl later moved to Chile.
Elise Lensing died in Hamburg in 1854. Hebbel was devastated. He recognized their complex relationship. He believed he would meet her again in a better place.
Elise was initially buried in St. Georgs-Friedhof. When Hamburg expanded, the cemetery was leveled. Christine Hebbel moved Elise’s remains. She bought a gravesite in Hamburg-Ohlsdorf. A stele marks her grave. It bears a quote from Hebbel.
Today, the Elise-Lensing-Weg in Hamburg-Barmbek-Nord. It commemorates Hebbel’s longtime friend. This plaque serves as a reminder. It speaks to a remarkable woman. She helped shape a great writer’s life. She offered unwavering support. Remember Elise Lensing when you pass by this plaque.