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Dora Hitz
Fighting with the old for the new
Dora Hitz, Weinernte, um 1909, Öl auf Leinwand, Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, © Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, Foto: Oliver Ziebe, Berlin – Dora Hitz, Weinernte
© Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, Foto: Oliver Ziebe, Berlin
The Liebermann-Villa am Wannsee, together with the Institute for Art and Visual History of the Humboldt University and the Bröhan Museum, is delighted to present a solo exhibition in honour of the painter Dora Hitz (1853-1924). On the 100th anniversary of her death, the exhibition is the first comprehensive tribute to this outstanding modernist artist in almost a century. The exhibition invites visitors to rediscover Dora Hitz and reassess her work.
A pioneer of Berlin Modernism:
Dora Hitz was a contemporary of Max Liebermann and shared his vision of a new, modern art. As a founding member of the Berlin Secession and the only woman in the artist group Vereinigung der XI, she fought for independent artistic expression outside of official art politics. Her multifaceted work was recognised in exhibitions at home and abroad and was included in prestigious collections such as the Berlin National Gallery during her lifetime. Yet despite her important role in the art world, her name is hardly known today.
Rahel Schrohe, curator of the exhibition:
In the exhibition, we focus on Dora Hitz's Berlin period and divide it into four themes that illuminate central aspects of her work: Women in Floral Rooms, Mother and Child Paintings, Commissioned Portraits and Italian Scenes. This display allows visitors to discover the versatility of her style and the changes in her work. We are delighted to be able to bring together her work in a way that has probably never been seen before.
We see our exhibition as an invitation to exchange ideas and to further research into Hitz's life and work. As many of her works are now lost, we would like to invite collectors, institutions and art enthusiasts to share their findings and any works with us. Together, we would like to help bring this fascinating artist into the canon.
Many unknown treasures
The exhibition explores the question of why the painter Dora Hitz has been forgotten. Is it because of her stylistic diversity, the changing artistic trends of her time, the categorical oppression of women, or the fact that she left no legacy? As early as 1925, art critics were asking: 'Who was Dora Hitz?"
Viktoria Krieger, curator of the exhibition:
Dora Hitz was a truly remarkable personality, she actively helped to shape the art scene! She described herself as a 'seeker' and we can recognize that when we look at her work today. Hitz moved between Symbolism, Impressionism, Arts and Crafts and, later, Expressionism. She is not easy to categorise and that is what makes her so exciting to study. The rediscovery of the painter is particularly moving, as she was highly respected during her lifetime and had a reputation to defend. What remains of this, if no descendants take care to preserve her reputation, can be observed in the case of Hitz. With this joint project, we want to honour Hitz and finally bring her back to memory. She was a fighter for the 'new'. She deserves it.
A collaboration that opens doors
Thanks to the intensive collaboration with Humboldt University and the Bröhan Museum, important research findings have been incorporated into the joint project. In particular, Rahel Schrohe's dissertation forms the scientific basis of the exhibition. The involvement of two other experts, Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle from the Humboldt University and Dr. Sabine Meister from the Bröhan Museum, has made it possible to place Hitz's life and work in the historical context of the Berlin Secession and to open up new perspectives on the role of women artists around 1900.
Dr. Tilmann von Stockhausen, President of the Max Liebermann Society:
We would like to thank all those who have made this project possible: our cooperation partners, the many private lenders, the museums, the Hauptstadtkulturfonds for its generous support, the Schultz-Frentzel Family Foundation and the Humboldt University Foundation for their support of the catalogue. We hope that this exhibition will encourage further research into women artists. There are still so many biographies to be rediscovered. What particularly impresses me about Dora Hitz is how independent she was. She was well connected in Europe, went from Munich to Romania as a court painter, later to Paris and travelled to Italy again and again. In the end, she settled in imperial Berlin and had a lasting influence on the city's art scene. The painter has a few surprises in store for us, including unknown large-format studies - come and see for yourself!’
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue with academic contributions from art historians working at museums and universities as well as young researchers.
A pioneer of Berlin Modernism:
Dora Hitz was a contemporary of Max Liebermann and shared his vision of a new, modern art. As a founding member of the Berlin Secession and the only woman in the artist group Vereinigung der XI, she fought for independent artistic expression outside of official art politics. Her multifaceted work was recognised in exhibitions at home and abroad and was included in prestigious collections such as the Berlin National Gallery during her lifetime. Yet despite her important role in the art world, her name is hardly known today.
Rahel Schrohe, curator of the exhibition:
In the exhibition, we focus on Dora Hitz's Berlin period and divide it into four themes that illuminate central aspects of her work: Women in Floral Rooms, Mother and Child Paintings, Commissioned Portraits and Italian Scenes. This display allows visitors to discover the versatility of her style and the changes in her work. We are delighted to be able to bring together her work in a way that has probably never been seen before.
We see our exhibition as an invitation to exchange ideas and to further research into Hitz's life and work. As many of her works are now lost, we would like to invite collectors, institutions and art enthusiasts to share their findings and any works with us. Together, we would like to help bring this fascinating artist into the canon.
Many unknown treasures
The exhibition explores the question of why the painter Dora Hitz has been forgotten. Is it because of her stylistic diversity, the changing artistic trends of her time, the categorical oppression of women, or the fact that she left no legacy? As early as 1925, art critics were asking: 'Who was Dora Hitz?"
Viktoria Krieger, curator of the exhibition:
Dora Hitz was a truly remarkable personality, she actively helped to shape the art scene! She described herself as a 'seeker' and we can recognize that when we look at her work today. Hitz moved between Symbolism, Impressionism, Arts and Crafts and, later, Expressionism. She is not easy to categorise and that is what makes her so exciting to study. The rediscovery of the painter is particularly moving, as she was highly respected during her lifetime and had a reputation to defend. What remains of this, if no descendants take care to preserve her reputation, can be observed in the case of Hitz. With this joint project, we want to honour Hitz and finally bring her back to memory. She was a fighter for the 'new'. She deserves it.
A collaboration that opens doors
Thanks to the intensive collaboration with Humboldt University and the Bröhan Museum, important research findings have been incorporated into the joint project. In particular, Rahel Schrohe's dissertation forms the scientific basis of the exhibition. The involvement of two other experts, Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle from the Humboldt University and Dr. Sabine Meister from the Bröhan Museum, has made it possible to place Hitz's life and work in the historical context of the Berlin Secession and to open up new perspectives on the role of women artists around 1900.
Dr. Tilmann von Stockhausen, President of the Max Liebermann Society:
We would like to thank all those who have made this project possible: our cooperation partners, the many private lenders, the museums, the Hauptstadtkulturfonds for its generous support, the Schultz-Frentzel Family Foundation and the Humboldt University Foundation for their support of the catalogue. We hope that this exhibition will encourage further research into women artists. There are still so many biographies to be rediscovered. What particularly impresses me about Dora Hitz is how independent she was. She was well connected in Europe, went from Munich to Romania as a court painter, later to Paris and travelled to Italy again and again. In the end, she settled in imperial Berlin and had a lasting influence on the city's art scene. The painter has a few surprises in store for us, including unknown large-format studies - come and see for yourself!’
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue with academic contributions from art historians working at museums and universities as well as young researchers.
Runtime: Sat, 19/10/2024 to Mon, 20/01/2025
Price: €10.00
Reduced price: €6.00
Reduced price info: Reduction for pupils, students, trainees, unemployed and severely disabled persons (according to ID).
Children and young people up to 18 years free, ICOM members and members of the Max Liebermann Society and refugees free.
Reduced price: €6.00
Reduced price info: Reduction for pupils, students, trainees, unemployed and severely disabled persons (according to ID).
Children and young people up to 18 years free, ICOM members and members of the Max Liebermann Society and refugees free.
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