John Schikowski

John Leopold Schikowski (born July 17, 1867 in Gumbinnen , East Prussia , † March 3, 1934 in Berlin ) was a German writer , art historian , art critic , culture editor, dance historian .

Life

After attending grammar school in his hometown of Gumbinnen, Schikowski studied art history, political science and philosophy in Leipzig and Berlin. In Leipzig he received his doctorate in 1895 with the thesis on unemployment and unemployment statistics . Schikowski then went to Berlin, founded the Free Volksbühne and began working as a feature editor for the Berlin daily “ Vorwärts ” in 1922 .

With the work I know life in Mexico he documents his relationship with the writer B. Traven, who was living in exile in Mexico at the time . He was fortunate to find his discoverer and patron in John Schikowski. Schikowski initiated the reprint of the novels The Cotton Pickers and The Dead Ship in "Vorwärts" and helped the long-lost man to a great breakthrough.

Schikowski's work as an art critic in Berlin in the 1920s was outstanding in the fields of painting, exhibitions and dance. His particular concern was to support young artists, especially with financial help for training. For over 30 years he was one of the most important sponsors of the young dancers.

The extent of his work became particularly clear in the memorial event that took place for the dance matinee on May 13, 1934 on the occasion of his death in Berlin. Many of the greatest dance artists of the time, for whom Schikowski had largely opened up the entrance to the stage and the path to the ascent, performed and danced in his memory: Rudolf von Laban , Mary Wigman , Gret Palucca , Yvonne Georgi , Jutta Klamt dance group , Afrika Doering , Erika Lindner , Lisa Ney - to name just a few.

Works

• About unemployment and unemployment statistics . Leipzig, 1894
• About unemployment and unemployment statistics . Dissertation, Leipzig, Friedrich, 1895
• On the method of unemployment statistics . Leipzig: Friedrich, 1895
• The development of the German stage arts . Leipzig [u. a.]: Merseburger, 1905
• Bartel Turaser: Introduction / John Schikowski . Drama in 3 acts by Philipp Langmann. Berlin, Buchh. Forward, ca.1905
• Morals and character images from the French Revolution . Berlin, Buchh. Forward, 1920
• The new dance . Berlin, Volksbühnen-Verl., 1924
• Striker against philistinism . Essays, Berlin, Dietz, 1925
• Creating and experiencing art . Berlin, Dietz, 1926
• History of dance . Berlin, Gutenberg Book Guild, 1926
• I know life in Mexico . Letters to John Schikowski 1925 to 1932 Traven, B., Frankfurt am Main [u. a.], Limes-Verl., 1992

literature

• John Schiskowski [sic!]. In: Franz Osterroth : Biographical Lexicon of Socialism . Deceased personalities . Vol. 1. JHW Dietz Nachf., Hanover 1960, p. 265.
• Manuscripts, correspondence from Schikowski's estate . Berlin State Library / Manuscript Department