Judgment Day (painting)

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Painting "The Last Day", whole
Painting "The Last Day", text
Painting "The Last Day", detail
Self-portrait of Ernst Bader

The Judgment Day is a painting by E. Bader in the Georgskirche in Heilbronn-Horkheim .

history

The painting was painted before the First World War and donated to the Horkheim parish in 1935 by the artist's widow. In the post-war period the picture was hung in the choir of the Horkheim church. In 1968 it was restored along with the frame by a restorer.

description

The 2.20 × 1.80 m painting shows a text with the heading in the lower left corner of the picture. The work of art reproduces an image as Bader saw it in a dream. A description of the artist can be read in the left corner of the picture:

“ YOUNGEST DAY as the painter saw this picture in a dream. A terrible earthquake and a furious west storm force the howling crowd to stoop to look east, in fear of death awaiting the end. The sky is incredibly quiet and evenly dark. Suddenly the deity appears in the expanding fire, visible to all. Now even those who deny God confess: It is really true what was written and said by God! The upright groan for salvation, in an instant their body is transformed. They soar up, praising God Almighty. Ernst Bader "

The Trinity appears in a frame on the horizon . The crowd watching is split in two. One side turns away while the other side looks up with hope. The picture aroused outrage in the Heilbronn population, because many living Heilbronn residents found themselves in the true-to-life painted heads in the lower part of the painting. Ernst Bader portrayed himself in his heads, his head is turned to the left in the lower third in the middle.

reception

Erwin Habold (born November 11, 1889; † February 12, 1969), geometer, senior teacher, hobby historian and teacher at the Staufenberg School described in his commemorative publication for the local festival of the community of Horkheim July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 , how the group of people faced of the “ world judge ” are full of emotions . The picture was very controversial. So the statement - a coming supernatural judgment - was neither understood nor accepted as timely. The image was also misunderstood as a brush exercise based on Italian models.

According to Habold, the statement was to assume responsibility for omission or actions, as well as for the way of life. This is not in contradiction to “cosmopolitanism” and “joy of being” : “In the cosmopolitan artist Bader, who knew how to enliven the joys of his clients through his work, who was deeply rooted in the faith that was already placed in him in his childhood was, stayed awake that one day we will have to give an account of our lives and our actions. The upbringing of the nursery has found a corresponding expression here ”.

Even Helmut Schmolz describes the same intention as Habold:

“ Of course there are a few things you can object to the picture, e. B. that it is impossible to portray God so figuratively. But these are externals. The message of the picture can still be preserved: Man, you are responsible for what you do. "

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Helmut Schmolz / Hubert Weckbach: The painting by Ernst Bader . In: One Thousand Years of Horkheim: Festival days on June 25, 26 and 27, 1976 . Heilbronn Verlag, 1976 ( from HEUSS database [accessed on November 22, 2011] Heilbronn City Archives, signature L006-He 3 Hor-1976).
  2. ↑ "some are full of fear and horror, others full of joy and exultation ..." Erwin Habold: Ernst Bader (1860–1915) . In: Festschrift for the Horkheimer Heimatfest on July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 . Heilbronner Voice, Heilbronn 1957, p. 35–37, see p. 37 (Heilbronn City Archives, signature C004A-578).
  3. ↑ “Such a portrait was not understood by his contemporaries. The belief in steady progress was so dominant that the memory of a final judgment was rejected as out of date ... ” Erwin Habold: Ernst Bader (1860–1915) . In: Festschrift for the Horkheimer Heimatfest on July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 . Heilbronner Voice, Heilbronn 1957, p. 35–37, see p. 37 (Heilbronn City Archives, signature C004A-578).
  4. ↑ “Some have wanted such a picture to be regarded as a brush exercise that independently created the impressions of corresponding pictures by Italian masters ...” Erwin Habold: Ernst Bader (1860–1915) . In: Festschrift for the Horkheimer Heimatfest on July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 . Heilbronner Voice, Heilbronn 1957, p. 35–37, see p. 37 (Heilbronn City Archives, signature C004A-578).
  5. ^ Erwin Habold: Ernst Bader (1860–1915) . In: Festschrift for the Horkheimer Heimatfest on July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 . Heilbronner Voice, Heilbronn 1957, p. 35–37, see p. 37 (Heilbronn City Archives, signature C004A-578).

literature

  • Erwin Habold: Ernst Bader (1860–1915) . In: Festschrift for the Horkheimer Heimatfest on July 6, 7 and 8, 1957 . Heilbronner Voice, Heilbronn 1957, p. 35–37 (Heilbronn City Archives, signature C004A-578).
  • Franziska Feinäugle: In the footsteps of the painter Ernst Bader . In: Heilbronn voice . February 27, 2012 ( from Stimme.de [accessed on March 23, 2012]).