How many artists do you know who were rediscovered at 89? This Lotte Laserstein Plaque marks the former residence of an extraordinary woman. Lotte Laserstein lived here at Jenaer Strasse 3 in Berlin-Wilmersdorf. The memorial plaque was placed here in 2020.
Lotte Laserstein was a German-Swedish painter. She is considered an important artist of the Weimar Republic. Laserstein was born in East Prussia in 1898. She achieved an artistic high point before the Nazis seized power. In 1927, she was one of the first women to graduate with distinction. She studied under Erich Wolfsfeld in Berlin. From the start, she loved portrait painting. Her works from the 1920s and 1930s resemble New Objectivity.
The National Socialist era was a difficult time for Lotte Laserstein. Being of Jewish origin, she fled to Sweden in 1936. She tried to help her mother and sister escape as well. Sadly, her mother died in the Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1943. Her sister survived hidden in Berlin but was traumatized. She passed away twenty years after the war. In exile in Sweden, Laserstein worked as a commissioned portrait painter.
During her life, Lotte Laserstein gained international recognition. The Royal Academy of Arts in London presented “German Art in the 20th Century” in 1985. It also appeared at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart in 1986. That same year, a traveling exhibition of German émigré artists went to London and Berlin. In 1987, Laserstein had a solo exhibition in London. It was considered a rediscovery of the 89-year-old artist.
Lotte Laserstein continued painting until her death in 1993 at the age of 92. Today, her works are in prestigious collections. The Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin owns her main work, “Evening over Potsdam”. The Frankfurt Städel Museum also houses some of her pieces.
Lotte Laserstein’s journey is fascinating. Her early success, forced exile, and eventual rediscovery are compelling. Laserstein described her life as divided when she escaped to Sweden. This division shaped her career.
Her Berlin paintings show life as an artist. They depict modern women of the Weimar Republic. These works remain surprisingly relevant. They reflect ongoing discussions about gender identity.
Her Swedish works raise important questions. What does it mean to lose your culture? How do you establish roots in a new society? These questions are relevant in today’s world.
“Evening over Potsdam” is a large-scale masterpiece. It shows young people in silence. It symbolizes the social crisis after World War I. Laserstein later renamed it “My Friends”. This honored what she had left behind.
The Lotte Laserstein Plaque commemorates a life of artistic passion. It also recognizes resilience in the face of adversity. It reminds us of the importance of remembering overlooked voices. It celebrates a talented painter. Her work captured a changing world. It also demonstrates the enduring power of art.