Collection of 71 letters and cards (in large part signed)
Germany, 1 October 1939 - 8 February 1954
Erich Heckel (1883-1970) - German painter and graphic artist of expressionism and a founding member of the artist group ‘Brücke’
Extensive collection of letters to his friend Ottmar Hollmann
60 single sheets, overall 101 written pages and additional cards
Letter including a small pen and ink sketch
In fine condition

This extensive collection of letters by the artist include 45 autographic letters with signature, two autographic unsigned letters, a letter from an unknown hand with autographed signatures, seven autographic postcards with signature, an autographic manuscript as well as 14 hand labeled envelopes and a telegram. All letters are directed to Heckel’s friend Ottmar Hollmann (born 1915), who as a captain in the Air Force fell prisoner in Canada in the beginning of war (some letters carry the Canadian censor stamp). The postwar letters went mostly to Dusseldorf. The early letters often contain news of common friends who are probably called only with shortcuts due to political considerations: ‘Si’, ‘Be’, ‘Kü’, ‘Tue’, etc.; some of the abbreviations can be broken down from later letters, so ‘Kü’ is the publisher Küpper, ‘Di’ is likely the archaeologist Dietrich von Bothmer, ‘Be’ his brother Bernhard von Bothmer (Egyptologist). Ernst Morwitz, over whom Heckel came in contact with the George-circle, appears as ‘EM’.

Heckel was forbidden to paint since 1937, in the course of ‘degenerate art’ 729 of his works were confiscated and removed from German museums. In 1939 he had to experience how many of his works were destroyed during the public burning of books on 20.03.1939 in the yard of Berlin's main fire station. He is careful not to speak about artistic or political problems in his letters. The postwar letters give more insight into the artistic work of Heckel, in particular technical aspects, also teaching at the Karlsruhe academy, particularly since Hollmann taught himself in arts and submitted samples of his work to his friend for a critical review. Some letters are about twelve paintings Heckel created before the war that he finally received back from the U.S. after a long time.

The letters are dated from 1 October 1939 to 8 February 1954 and also provided with locality (Berlin, Baden bei Wien, Hemmenhofen, Karlsruhe, Kampen, Sils-Maria and without location).



A hand written postcard from Siddi Heckel to Hollmann as well as an autographic letter to the often mentioned girlfriend Hollmann’s, the artist Paraskewe of Bereskine, are also included.



The collection includes various formats from postcard size to Folio and is in fine overall condition with minor marginal blemishes and occasional crease marks. Some letters were perforated unclean.



Erich Heckel (1883-1970)

Erich Heckel was born 1883 in Döbeln and studied architecture before he dedicated himself to the Fine Arts. In 1905 Heckel founded with Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Fritz Bleyl (who quit in 1907) in Dresden, the ‘Brücke’ – a group of expressionist artists. Later the group was joined by Max Pechstein, Emil Nolde and Otto Mueller.