Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Monday, September 26, 2016

Proof Germany Is Commemorating the War


Although there is surprisingly little coverage of it in the English-speaking press, German institutions  are remembering the war. It takes a little digging, though, to find some of the best resources. For instance from June 2014 through most of 2015, the Ausstellung IM LVR-Freilichtmuseum in the Kommern district of Mechernich, Germany  presented an exhibit on the Rhineland in the War..

It included an exhibit of the works of Anton Keldenich (1874–1936), a talented regional artist and diarist, who served in the front line despite being too old to be conscripted and quite small. He was initially fascinated by the war machine and sketching of machine guns and rifles and life in the trenches. As the war continued, he designed crosses for fallen soldiers. He eventually became disillusioned over the terrible loses of his comrades. 

Here are some of his wartime images displayed in the exhibit.

Self-Portrait


1914 Mobilization, Probably Before the Artist Himself Enlisted


On Alert at a Machine Gun Bunker


Orderly Life in the Trenches, Watercolor



Later War Sketch


A Selection of the Artist's Watercolors at the Exhibit



Sources:  LVR-Freilichtmuseum  Website  (LINK)

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing -- it can be difficult to find information on the Axis Powers and the war.

    ReplyDelete