A Young Dutch Girl

by

is the title of an oil painting by Yehudo Epstein. We first saw this painting one hot summer day at the Holt Festival at the end of July this year. It was hanging in the exhibition on ‘degenerate art’ (entartete Kunst) on loan from Stephen Fry’s mother Marianne. It had never been exhibited before.
The trip to our beautiful Georgian market town was the first since Masterchen’s aneurysm operation, which has taken its toll on him, though he would never admit it.

ist der Titel eines Ölgemäldes von Yehudo Epstein. Wir sahen dieses Gemälde zuerst eines heißen Sommertages beim Holt Festival Ende Juli dieses Jahres. Es hing dort in der Ausstellung über entartete Kunst als Leihgabe von Stephen Frys Mutter Marianne. Es ist nie zuvor ausgestellt worden.
Der Ausflug in unsere schöne Georgian Marktstadt war der erste nach Masterchens Operation eines Aneurysmas, die ihn etwas mitgenommen hat, was er jedoch niemals zugeben würde.

Siri and Selma excitedly plucked at Dina’s summer jacket.
“Come on, there’s a picture with a cut. We’ve never seen anything like it. Can you take a photo of it?”
They wondered how it had come about and why such a damaged picture was on display. At home, the two of them eagerly began to do some research.

Siri und Selma zupften ganz aufgeregt an Dinas Sommerjacke.
“Komm! Da ist ein Bild mit einem Schnitt. Sowas haben wir noch nie gesehen. Kannst du das fotografieren?”
Wie dieser wohl zustande kam, wunderten sie sich, und warum ein derart beschädigtes Bild ausgestellt wurde. Zu Hause begannen die beiden eifrig zu recherchieren.

Here is the story behind this picture:
Klara Grabscheid, the stepmother of Stephen Fry’s mother, was a young lawyer when Austria was annexed to the German Reich in 1938. As a Jew, she understandably fled to England with her parents. However, in order to be allowed to take some of her possessions with her, she paid a considerable sum, as did Sigmund Freud.

Hier die Geschichte dieses Bildes:
Klara Grabscheid, die Stiefmutter von Stephen Frys Mutter, war eine junge Anwältin als 1938 Österreich ans Deutsche Reich angeschlossen wurde. Als Jüdin floh sie verständlicher Weise mit ihren Eltern nach England. Damit sie einiges ihres Besitzes mitnehmen durfte, zahlte sie wie Sigmund Freud eine beträchtliche Summe.

At the border, the border guards watched for illegal refugees from the Reich by brutally thrusting their bayonets through the packed bundles of Jews travelling out of the country. That’s how this cut came about.

An der Grenze schauten die Grenzschützer nach illegal Fliehenden aus dem Reich, indem sie auf brutale Weise ihre Bajonette durch die gepackten Bündel ausreisender Juden stießen. So kam dieser Schnitt zustande.

As this cut tells the sad story of the fleeing Jews, this painting was never restored and was exhibited for the first time in our nearby market town.
Another painting by the Jewish painter Yehudo Epstein, “Die Kaffeestunde” (The Coffee Hour), was stolen by the Nazis, returned to the Jewish Museum in Vienna after the war, which restored it and gave it to Anne Starkey in London ten years ago as Epstein’s great-niece. Anne Starkey is the great-granddaughter of the young woman in the damaged painting.

Da dieser Schnitt die traurige Geschichte der fliehenden Juden erzählt, wurde dieses Gemälde nie restauriert und erstmalig in unserer nahen Marktstadt ausgestellt.
Ein anderes Bild des jüdischen Malers Yehudo Epstein “Die Kaffeestunde” wurde von den Nazis gestohlen, nach dem Krieg ans Jüdische Museum in Wien zurückgegeben, welches es restaurierte und vor zehn Jahren Anne Starkey in London als Epsteins Großnichte übergab. Anne Starkey ist die Großenkelin der jungen Frau in dem beschädigten Gemälde.

Our dear Master was in his element here talking about the political responsibility of the artist. All art, he argued, is political, there is no such thing as apolitical art, but there are artists who are not aware of this.

Masterchen war hier in seinem Element über die politische Verantwortung des Künstlers zu sprechen. Jede Kunst, so lautet sein Argument, ist politisch, es gibt keine unpolitische Kunst, aber es gibt Künstler, die sich dessen nicht bewusst sind.

Warm greetings from the cold sea
Alles Gute from kleinen Dorf am grossen Meer

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

.

© text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers & Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea 2024

129 thoughts

  1. I feel sure that the excellent art restorer on the BBC TV show ‘The Repair Shop’ would be happy to repair that painting, given its history. I hope that KB enjoys a full recovery soon, and send you both my very best wishes from Beetley.

    Pete. X

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Thanks a lot, dear Pete.

      Kb is more or less well again. He feels fit and healthy, it’s the great care of Dina and Siri & Selma.

      With love from the sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Liebe Uschi, lieber Herbert

      ja Klausbernd ist wieder hergestellt, fit wie vor der OP.

      Vielen Dank für eure lieben Wünsche

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  3. I wonder if he ever knew that this had happened to his painting, and that the cut imbued it with a power not intended at the paintings creation. I read that he died a couple of months after the war wnded, but had emmigrated to South Africa in 1935-8, so possibly not.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Fraggle

      we are pretty sure that he didn’t know what happened to his painting.
      We think it’s great that this picture was never restored. We wouldn’t have been fascinated by this picture because as the picture it doesn’t seem special to us, actually painted in a rather old fashioned academic style.

      Thanks and have a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Interesting piece, including the Master’s theory that all art is political. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but I suppose to great extent it is, including the landscape meadows with their swath of green and the still life floral bouquets preserving an environmental beauty.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Mary,

      to be unpolitical is in a way as political as being political. Brecht said in one of his poems that he lives in dark times. Writing about nature is nearly a crime because of not mentioning the political situation.

      “Was sind das für Zeiten, wo
      Ein Gespräch über Bäume fast ein Verbrechen ist,
      Weil es ein Schweigen über so viele Untaten einschließt.”

      What times are these, in which
      A talk about trees is all but a crime
      For it implies we say nothing about many other crimes.

      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you very much, dear Jo 🙏 🙏

      Kb is well again thanks to the loving care of Dina and Siri & Selma.
      We think it is rightly done not to restore this picture to make us remember its brutal history – especially in times in which neo-fashists are getting stronger.

      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Good to hear you are well again, Klausbernd. And thank you for this sad story and its should ever be remembered circumstances. We don’t remember though. Or only if it’s politically expedient to do so, at which point it’s often not at all for the greater good, but for some self-serving divide and rule objective.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Tish

      we agree, such story should be remembered for a never-again. We thought the time is appropriate for remembering now.

      Thanks and wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Neihtn,

      we are afraid they did so. They hated everyone who didn’t like their regime and especially if they were Jewish. Fascism is always connected with blind fanaticism.

      Thanks and happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Margaret,

      thanks for the good wishes. Kb is quite well again.

      We don’t seem to learn from history or at least some people don’t.

      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley

      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. A lovely painting, all the more touching because of its dark history. Sorry to hear about the need for an aneurysm operation Klausbernd. Here’s wishing you a swift recovery. Your look well in the photograph. Hope to see you before the summer is out. All the best from a grey but sultry Norwich. Laurence

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Laurence,

      thank you for your good wishes. Kb is more or less recovered and as well as he was before. But it took him three weeks to recover.

      We all hope to see you soon again
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  11. That’s a beautiful painting, deepened by the backstory. I begin to believe man’s purpose here is not happiness but something else that is still very fuzzy to me. Thankfully, I have a few more years to figure it out.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Maybe, dear Jacqui, if there is a purpose it’s to make the people around you happy. It sounds easier than it is, doesn’t it?

      Let’s hope that we’ll succeed
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Sehr interessant, die Geschichte des Bildes. Beim ersten Ansehen fragte ich mich auch, warum es nicht restauriert wurde. Das wäre doch überhaupt kein Problem. Aber mit der Geschichte macht es natürlich Sinn, es sogar so auszustellen.

    Dir, lieber Klausbernd, weiterhin gute Genesung!

    Lieben Gruß von der Silberdistel

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Silberdistel
      herzlichen Dank 🙏 🙏 Ich bin bestens wieder hergestellt 🙂
      Wir geben dir völlig recht, der Schnitt ist heute der wichtigste Teil des Bildes, das sonst in der Versenkung der Kunstgeschichte verschwunden wäre. Das ist die Dialektik des Bösen, die Faschisten machten, freilich unfreiwillig, dieses Bild berühmt.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom kleinen Dorf am großen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. An interesting story about the cut. I think to repair it would mean the loss of the story eventually. The question, “How did that cut get there?” brings the history of a brutal time back to being retold. This story should never be forgotten. Thanks, F4oC. Best wishes on Kb’s full recovery.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Darlene 🙏 🙏 I underestimated the operation but now I am well and fit again.

      We see it as well that the cut is an important element of this picture. Without this cut we wouldn’t have blogged about it.

      Wishing you a wonderful Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Fab Four of Cley,
    It is sad that the painting was damaged, but it also adds to this history of it. So much art is still missing.
    Thank you for this wonderful story.
    I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying your summer!!
    GP

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  22. Ich schrieb vorhin länglich über ein Gemälde von Dieter Stein, das Vandalismus zum Opfer gefallen schien.

    Wie es sich durch Zufall herausstellte, war es eine Schenkung gewesen, die eine Vertiefung aufwies, die nie korrigiert wurde.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  24. My dear friends,
    Thank you for highlighting the tragic history behind the painting.
    The story of the Jewish painting and the tragic history it carries is important and painful and itself a story worthy a novel. I wonder if Stephen Fry has ever written anything about his mother’s painting. I couldn’t find any references.
    More than ever, it’s crucial that we continue to remember and discuss these painful events as history sadly is repeating itself.
    Well done, FabFour, for giving us this powerful reminder of the atrocities faced by its Jewish owner while fleeing Nazi Germany, especially with your German roots.
    Great to see you are feeling much better now.
    Kram
    Annalena xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Annalena,

      the Jewish owners, like Sigmund Freud, didn’t flee from Nazi Germany but from Nazi Austria. Actually this atrocities started in Austria. Don’t forget that Hitler was Austrian. But, of course, he came to power in Germany.

      With our German roots we see it as our duty to warn that history doesn’t repeat itself.

      With lots of love from the sunny Norfolk coast
      KRAM 🤗 🤗
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    • Hi Annalena,
      amongst PR experts there is a say: “It is Austria’s biggest PR stunt ever to make the world believe that Hitler was a German and Beethoven was an Austrian.”

      Did you visit Beethoven’s birthplace when you saw Hanne and Klausbernd in Bonn?
      Greetings from Svalbard
      Per Magnus

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Per Magnus

      it’s amazing how successfully the Austrians made the world think that Hitler was German. Early Fake News.

      We hope you and your son are well and you enjoy the beauty of the High Arctic. We are contemplating visiting Svalbard again next year. On the other hand, as you know, we don’t like to travel. But it’s different with an icebreaker that even Kb would like (if it’s a small ship).

      With lots of love from us all
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Dear friends,
    Now I understand why I haven’t heard from you for so long. Good to see recovering so well, Klausbernd. You never mentioned you were struggling with an aneurysm! Perhaps just as well. I’m sure you have heard plenty of stories after your operation. I have had an aneurysm for quite some years but have been told as long as it doesn’t grow any bigger, there’s no need for action.

    Do you know that you are telling a unique story in more than one respect? I was cheeky and tried to find more details about the painting and the Fry family. I have read books by Stephen Fry and he is a familiar face also on Norwegian tv. So I asked ChatGPT to help me investigating. OpenAI was quoting YOU with a link to FabFourblog! That was all they could find + link to a short Epstein bio. Amazing, isn’t it?

    I’m in Longyearbyen for two weeks now. Until last Friday I was in beautiful Lofoten visiting friends. Not a beautiful sight with thousands of tourists littering the landscape. The surging visitor numbers are almost out of control.
    https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Arctic-crush-Norway-combats-overtourism
    How is on your coastline during busy August?

    Klem
    Per Magnus xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Our dear friend Per Magnus,

      Klausbernd’s aneurism was found out by accident. He might have had it for years. It was too big for doing nothing and so it was operated. This is done. He felt quite ill the first two weeks afterwards and could hardly walk. But you know him, he put all his energy into feeling well mentally and trained to go more steps every day. Now he is fit like he was before.

      Thanks for telling us about AI. We had a look. Great that they are quoting our blog post with a link. We love that.

      Many places are overrun by tourists and the locals hate the masses of tourists. We don’t understand how people like to travel anymore. Travelling has lost its magic. We know, it sounds quite elitist, but in former times when only a few people could afford to travel, travelling was great. But the masses make travelling unpleasant nowadays. Here at the coast of North Norfolk we don’t do much to attract tourists. In Cley-next-the-Sea we don’t have facilities for mass tourism and we avoid to attract mass tourism. The nature freaks coming to our coast and they are okay. Where we live we are not bothered by tourists but down at the coast road we have little traffic jams during summer. Another fact keeping tourism low are the high prices here. To go to a pub or restaurant we f.e. can’t afford. The prices are similar to Norway.

      Wishing you a great end of the summer.
      Lots of love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  29. Immer wieder trifft man auf Geschichten aus jener Zeit, die uns entsetzten. Schon im Geschichtsunterricht als junges Mädchen, fand ich es schrecklich und konnte es nicht verstehen! Verschwinden sollte so ein zugefügter Makel wirklich nicht, im Gegenteil!

    Lieber Klausbernd,

    weiterhin eine gute Genesung für dich!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Habe herzlichen Dank für deinen Kommentar und die guten Wünsche für Kbs Genesung. Er ist wieder froh, fit und munter 🙂

      Wir finden das auch gut, dass dieses Bild nicht restauriert wurde, sondern als eine Art Denkmal belassen wird, das an wahrlich finstere Zeiten erinnert.

      Mit lieben Grüßen von der sonnigen Küste Norfolks
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  31. My dear friends, it is always a joy to see your post come in my reader. We are sending positive healing thoughts to Klausbernd for a speedy recovery. I enjoyed the review of “A Young Dutch Girl”. For me, backstories add so much to the understanding of the painting.

    Klausbernd – a very interesting point on art and politics. I believe that art can indeed be seen as inherently political because art reflects and challenges societal norms, beliefs, and power structures. Artists, sometimes unknowingly, often use their work to make statements about social issues, advocate for change, or critique existing systems. Whether through overt messages or subtle symbolism, art has the power to provoke thought, spark conversations, and influence public opinion.

    Many thanks for a wonderful post and follow-up conversation.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Our friend Rebecca,

      we absolutely agree with what you have written about art. Every artefact mirrors the social and political situation of its production and comments it. The special thing about this picture is that the open political reference was not added by the artist but by outside forces opposing him.

      Another interesting question would be what is ‘entartete Kunst’ (degenerate art)? What makes art degenerate?

      Thanks for your comment 🙏 🙏
      With lots of hugs 🤗 🤗 and 💙💜
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • A very good question, Klausbernd. While the term generally refers to a specific time in history, I think that the definition can be taken more broadly. For example is it possible that art can be considered degenerate when it deviates from traditional standards and values? Is art degenerate if characterized by a rejection of conventional aesthetics and focuses on controversial or unconventional themes? Perhaps the real question is – who defines art as degenerate? You have given me something to think about – I continue to learn….

      Liked by 1 person

    • Good morning, dear Rebecca,

      the Nazis organised a big exhibition of 650 artefacts confiscated from German museums. This exhibition was called “Entartete Kunst”. Entartet, which translates degenerate, was defined as any art that isn’t classic or neo-classic. Typical for the Nazis was this anti-intellectualism and being deeply conservative.

      The term ‘degenerate’ is strongly connected with the thirties – this exhibition took place in Munich 1937. The Nazi ideology was obsessed with racism and a certain understanding of biology. Actually, everything that wasn’t aryan was seen as degenerate. In the fascist ideology a crude biological thinking was applied to everything – like art. Therefore the term ‘degenerate art’ was typical for this time and can’t be used outside these Nazi connotations.

      Wishing you and the whole Budd clan all the best 💜💜💙💙
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  32. My goodness, this was a poignant post. I think the slice in the painting speaks volumes. Did you know when Eric Carle was a teenager in Nazi Germany, his art teacher risked his life to show him modern art (Kandinsky, Matisse, Picasso, Klee, etc.) and that changed Eric Carle’s life. We would not have The Very Hungry Caterpillar had it not been for that art teacher in the war. I marvel at that, much like I marvel at the slice in the painting. I do hope Klausbernd is feeling better.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Jennie

      the far right like the fascists called every modern piece of art ‘entartet’ (degenerate). They wanted to turn art history, like all history, back and ended up with a realism that ironically was similar to the socialist realism of the communists. But, of course, there were exceptions like the highly stylish and influential art of Leni Riefenstahl.

      Klausbernd has 95% recovered, he is happy, fit and active again.

      Thank you very much for your comment.
      Have a happy week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Eric Carle’s art teacher told him it was ‘forbidden art’, much the same as degenerate art. You are so right on your comments! Thank you for that. Best to Klausbernd.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Jennie

      the forbidden art was called degenerate art. This was all art that isn’t classical or neo-classical. 1937 the Nazi-party organised in Munich an exhibition “Entartete Kunst” with 650 artefacts confiscated from German museums. The Nazis defined with this exhibition what’s “Degenerate Art” for them.

      These were indeed dark ages but on the other hand you still find too many people who reject modern art. It’s an anti-intellectualism.

      Thanks and cheers
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you for even more history and details. My mother rejected modern art. She couldn’t ‘see’ beyond impressionism. What a shame. Yet, my grandmother had Picasso hanging on her walls. I love your term anti-intellectualism!

      Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you very much, dear Steve.

      We haven’t heard of Yehudo Epstein before we went to this exhibition. And, I suppose, I wouldn’t have noticed this picture as something special wouldn’t there be that cut.

      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  35. Pingback: A Young Dutch Girl – Site Title

    • Thank you very much for your kind comment 🙏 🙏
      Indeed, art is communication. With some artefacts it’s more obvious than with others.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Pingback: A Young Dutch Girl – Authors & Artists Magazine

  38. Having been away these past weeks on holiday, I was unaware of your issue Klausbernd and am so glad to hear that you are recovering well. I loved your subject this week and agree wholeheartedly that the slash in the painting should never be repaired. There is such an important message from it – especially during these times of radical resurgence. A wonderful post. And greetings to all of the Fab Four.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Tina. I am recovered now.

      We had the feeling that’s the right time to speak about the dangers of radicalism. We are happy that you like our post. As a German I felt I have to address these dark times just before I was born.

      We wish you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Pingback: A Young Dutch Girl – Richdan news

    • Dear Mary

      thank you very much for commenting.
      Indeed, it’s one of the few paintings telling a story beyond the artist’s intention. Without this story we wouldn’t have payed so much attention for this picture.

      Wishing you all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  45. A fascinating and sad story behind the cut in the painting. In a way, I’m glad the artwork wasn’t restored. It’s a reminder of the atrocities of the war. Thanks for much for sharing the painting and its history.

    Like

    Reply

  47. Mich spricht dieses Gemälde an. Und seine Geschichte macht es noch einmal deutlich wertvoller. In diesem Sinne finde ich es gut, dass es NICHT restauriert wird.

    Ja, ich denke, dass eigentlich alles, was wir tun, eine politische Komponente hat und dass wir uns die meiste Zeit dessen nicht wirklich bewusst sind. Ich schließe mich da definitiv ein.

    Viele Grüße, Belana Hermine

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Belana Hermine

      da geben wir dir völlig recht.

      Verantwortlich politisches Handeln nicht nur als Künstler setzt Bewusstsein voraus. Aber leider kann ich mich dir anschließen, bei mir mangelt es auch zu oft daran.

      Habe herzlichen Dank für deinen Kommentar
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  48. What a fascinating story, in part, because this was deemed ‘degenerate art’ and never exhibited before, along with the backstory of it being the possession of Stephen Fry’s mother, Marianne. The cut makes it even more moving and emotional, and not restoring the painting makes it even more powerful. The power of art, and your bringing it to our attention, is again demonstrated here. Wonderful post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, dear Randall.

      The power of art is quite often underestimated and it shows on the other hand the responsibility of the artist.
      The ‘degenerate art’ was mostly the avantgarde art of that time.

      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

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