Born in Holzhausen Grethe Jürgens found her artistic voice in Hanover. This quiet resting place in the Stadtfriedhof Lahe holds the legacy of a remarkable woman. Grethe Jürgens a significant figure in the New Objectivity movement is buried here. She wasn’t just a painter. She was a designer an editor and a woman who captured the spirit of her time.
Imagine her early life in Wilhelmshaven. Then her move to Hanover to study graphics. At the Hanover School of Arts and Crafts she learned from Fritz Burger-Mühlfeld. She befriended other artists. They became leading figures of the New Objectivity. This artistic movement sought to depict reality. They focused on everyday life and social commentary. Grethe Jürgens’s paintings reflected this. Works such as Garden Picture and Employment Exchange showcase her talent. Her style was influenced by French artists like Henri Rousseau and Auguste Herbin.
But Grethe Jürgens wasn’t just a painter. She edited Der Wachsbogen a magazine for Hanover artists. In its pages she articulated the aims of New Objectivity. She emphasized portraying the realities of unemployment and poverty not through sentimentality but through honest observation. Her belief was that the strongest expression of her time could be found in these people. She was passionate and direct.
Her career extended beyond painting. She became an illustrator and designed book covers. She had a solo exhibition in Cologne. Even after 1933 she continued to create art. A retrospective of her works was shown at the Wilhelm Busch Museum in Hanover in 1951. Her art survived a difficult era. Her legacy is a testament to her persistence and vision.
Grethe Jürgens’s life and works are inextricably linked to Hanover. This is where she studied. This is where she lived and created much of her art. This is where she is laid to rest. Her work remains an important part of Hanover’s cultural history. Her grave a peaceful place reminds us of her powerful artistic voice. Remember the artist’s name. Remember Grethe Jürgens. Her story is Hanover’s story.