Gautinger doctoral student reveals Alfred Leithäuser's secret!

Gautinger doctoral student reveals Alfred Leithäuser's secret!

In Gauting, Alfred Leithäuser's artistic legacy is currently being researched by doctoral student Julia Reich. She is the first scientist to study the painter's work intensively. Leithäuser, who was born in Barmen, now Wuppertal, in 1898 and died in Gauting in 1979, has been increasingly recognized in recent years. The recently published catalog "Alfred Leithäuser. An artist with his own profile" was published on the occasion of his 125th birthday and is arousing great interest.

The community of Gauting is in possession of Leithäuser's artistic estate, which includes over 70 paintings and more than 200 graphics. This important collection provides deep insight into his work, as it contains early prints, nude drawings and his entire late work. After his death, his childless widow Emma donated the estate to the community, which only had to cover the costs of her funeral and grave maintenance. While parts of his work can be found in museums such as the Von der Heydt Museum and the Lenbachhaus in Munich, Leithäuser remains largely unknown to the general public. As de.wikipedia.org reports, there is little literature about him and no complete catalog raisonné.

Life and work

Alfred Leithäuser attended the arts and crafts school in Barmen and continued his education in Munich and Paris. His artistic development was particularly influenced by Paul Cézanne and the New Objectivity in Munich. His subjects ranged from still life and landscape painting to figurative compositions. During the Nazi era he was a member of the Reich Chamber of Fine Arts and took part in several important exhibitions, although his work was partially pushed into the background due to the “Degenerate Art” campaign. These traumatic experiences were later reflected in his visual language, which is characterized by clear compositions and strong colors.

A relatively unknown highlight of the Gautinger collection is the impressive painting “Blue Train” from 1960, which shows an undeveloped meadow on Pötschenerstrasse. In her research, Julia Reich also presented paintings from the 2023 Gautinger art exhibition, including a self-portrait from 1951/52 and the haunting work of the Arnold nursery, which was destroyed by hail. The catalog is available for 29.90 euros and brings Leithäuser's work close to the public.

A look at the collection

In Gauting, the artistic legacy is not only viewed as a treasure, but also as an opportunity to understand the history of an idiosyncratic artistic personality. Günther Hempe, who lived with Leithäuser in the 1950s and learned to paint from him, can tell many stories about the painter and his style. Leithäuser's home at Unterbrunner Straße 32 still exists today and symbolizes his long-standing connection to the community. Julia Reich's commitment could help more people discover Leithäuser's extraordinary work and pay new attention to the artist's story.

In a world often characterized by quick consumption and superficial interest, engaging with Leithäuser's work offers a welcome opportunity to engage with the depth and complexity of art and its history. In this sense, one can only wish that interest in Alfred Leithäuser grows, that conversations about his works continue and that his legacy remains alive. Those interested can find further information about Alfred Leithäuser and his works of art at alfred.camera and in numerous cultural offerings around Gauting.