The painter Hans Baluschek was known for his critical view of Berlin’s society around 1900. He kept to the fringes of society and portrayed city dwellers, workers and the poor who were scarred by life. The staunch social democrat never showed off his models. Almost lovingly, he let the shady street corners and the figures who inhabited them shine in the light of street lamps and cigarette burns. The Bröhan Museum is now showing a side of Baluschek that has remained in the dark, until now. In the unembellished scenes of Berlin’s working class, enigmatic details repeatedly appear that move beyond the typical realism of the time. The exhibition shows that, although Baluschek painted truthfully on the surface, he alluded to spiritualism and witchcraft between the layers of paint. Following the curators’ line of interpretation, there is a second world behind the harsh reality and misery.
At first glance, his painting “Families can make coffee here” may seem like a familiar excursion scene from back then. The title of the painting is a reference to an old Berlin custom that appealed to guests from the working class and petit bourgeoisie. They brought their ground coffee and food and only paid for borrowed crockery, milk and hot water. However, if you know about Baluschek’s interest in the occult, you cannot help but see the scene in a new light. Aren’t the ladies a little reminiscent of witches mixing potions and tinctures? Or is this even a case of fortune-telling from the coffee grounds? Baluschek has left many hints and conspicuous features in his work. The exhibition offers new possibilities for interpretation and thus achieves something remarkable: it exhibits a familiar painter in an entirely new light.
Text: Laura Storfner / Photos: Martin Adam / Credit: Hans Baluschek, Bröhan-Museum, Berlin
Bröhan-Museum, Schloßstr.1a., 14059 Berlin–Charlottenburg; map
Secret Codes. Hans Baluschek’s Painting Re-Read! until 01.09.2024
@broehan_museum
