He fell into oblivion, the painter Georg Demmel, who died in 1972.
Works by the “Hoichermaler” are now being shown in an exhibition in the Königsdorf local history museum.
Königsdorf - It often happens that the work of an artist only receives public attention and appreciation when he is long dead.
It is similar with Georg Demmel, the “Hoichermaler” from Königsdorf.
After there had already been an exhibition of some of his works in the Tölzer Stadtmuseum in 2000, the painter, who died in 1972, fell into oblivion again.
A book about Demmel's life and artistic legacy provides the impetus
Then came out - initiated by Tölz art patron Franz Röckl and under the direction of Walter Frei - a book about Demmel's life and artistic legacy came out last autumn.
Inspired by this, the Königsdorf association “Our Village” has now set up an exhibition in the local museum of local history with little-known pictures of the peasant painter from two lender families.
It was opened last Sunday.
“They are exhibits that nobody has actually seen before,” explained museum director Veronika Mayer, who helped initiate the show in conjunction with the “Our Village” association.
The visual and spatial design was essentially in the hands of Franz Grasberger.
Rare in the presented collection are about two oil portraits, probably made in 1926, showing the parents of the former mayor of Königsdorf, Franz Reindl.
Rare "because Georg Demmel never painted with oil again", as Mayer explained.
Michael Demmel, a great-nephew of the artist who looks after the estate, said he only knew of one other oil painting.
Motifs from the rural world of life and work
Georg Demmel had dedicated himself to watercolor painting. His motifs often came from rural life and work. Whether it's the grain harvest with sickles, a team of oxen with a "Schloapf" on the wintry way to collect litter or a farmer with horses "tree hooking" - it was often only a few brushstrokes, filled with a special feeling for suitable, preferably earthy shades with which the Hoichermaler created appealing and coherent pictures. He did not need any models, "he knew everything about the rural environment from childhood and had internalized the anatomy of people and animals," said Grasberger, describing the work of the artist, who was born in Königsdorf in 1899 and is described as modest and reserved. Georg Demmel also put his personal touch in the colors he used:“He bought pigments and mixed the colors himself,” said his great-nephew. "He achieved a special quality by adding colostrum, the first milk a cow had after calving."
Studied at the arts and crafts school in Munich
The Hoicherm painter's ability was not only based on his natural talent, as can be read on an information board in the Königsdorf local history museum: the farmer's son studied at the then arts and crafts school in Munich.
The exhibits in the exhibition show how the style of painting and the way of expression have changed over the years.
In addition to detailed behind glass images and filigree depictions of “Filz an der Rottach” and the “Isar between Lenggries and Fall”, the visitor's gaze falls on three wooden elements, painted with religious motifs.
They come from the wooden ceiling of the old church in Oberteisendorf and after its spectacular demolition came into the possession of the association “Our Village” via detours.
In many places Demmel's artistic handwriting is also present in frescoes on houses - especially numerous in Tölzer Marktstrasse, for example.
The Hoichermaler and Königsdorf deserved to draw attention to all these treasures, stated Vroni Mayer.
And perhaps, according to Franz Grasberger, “with the exhibition we can also awaken a feeling for old values in young people”.
info
The special exhibition in the Königsdorfer Heimatmuseum runs until the end of October and is open on Sundays from 9.30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Special tours for 5 or more people can be arranged by calling +49 81 79/424.
Rosi Bauer
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