“Wein, Weib, Gesang”: Art and Music in the Paintbox
The archives of the Künstlerverein Malkasten (Paintbox Artists' Union) in Düsseldorf, Germany, include a vast corpus of visual art, posters, programs, and books that illuminate the musical life of this artists' club. The materials reveal that the club not only enjoyed music as entertainment but also depended on it for inspiration in their artwork and as a means of social interaction, both among the members themselves and between the artists and the greater Rhineland community. The picture of the society that emerges is intrinsically connected to music and music-making, informing an understanding of how this highly-regarded institution and brotherhood of artists communed and thrived for over one hundred years.
Musical performances were a principal activity of the Malkasten throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including various types of Liederabends, concerts, tableaux vivants, musico-theatrical productions, and pageants. The club hosted these performances, and members actively contributed to them. While many artists created posters and programs for the events, others wrote librettos or dialogue. Many of the members also performed in the presentations, often as singers in solo or ensemble roles. Lied was the primary genre used by the Malkasten, and examples are found throughout their performance programs and songbooks. The most sophisticated lied source used by the club – the Düsseldorfer Lieder-Album (1851) – featured newly-composed songs with accompanying full-page color lithographs designed by Malkasten artists.
The songs and performance materials in the archive, as well as their accompanying imagery, provide a detailed portrait of the Malkasten and its culture. The artists' love of music, history, poetry, nature, and the Rhineland all intertwine in these sources. The artwork and texts reflect their witty sense of humor, ardent patriotism, and sincere fondness of one another. In short, the character and activity of the organization is represented fully in its musical life.
The archives of the Künstlerverein Malkasten (Paintbox Artists' Union) in Düsseldorf, Germany, include a vast corpus of visual art, posters, programs, and books that illuminate the musical life of this artists' club. The materials reveal that the club not only enjoyed music as entertainment but also depended on it for inspiration in their artwork and as a means of social interaction, both among the members themselves and between the artists and the greater Rhineland community. The picture of the society that emerges is intrinsically connected to music and music-making, informing an understanding of how this highly-regarded institution and brotherhood of artists communed and thrived for over one hundred years.
Musical performances were a principal activity of the Malkasten throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including various types of Liederabends, concerts, tableaux vivants, musico-theatrical productions, and pageants. The club hosted these performances, and members actively contributed to them. While many artists created posters and programs for the events, others wrote librettos or dialogue. Many of the members also performed in the presentations, often as singers in solo or ensemble roles. Lied was the primary genre used by the Malkasten, and examples are found throughout their performance programs and songbooks. The most sophisticated lied source used by the club – the Düsseldorfer Lieder-Album (1851) – featured newly-composed songs with accompanying full-page color lithographs designed by Malkasten artists.
The songs and performance materials in the archive, as well as their accompanying imagery, provide a detailed portrait of the Malkasten and its culture. The artists' love of music, history, poetry, nature, and the Rhineland all intertwine in these sources. The artwork and texts reflect their witty sense of humor, ardent patriotism, and sincere fondness of one another. In short, the character and activity of the organization is represented fully in its musical life.