Hanna Bekker Vom Rath

A multifaceted portrait of a vital ambassador of art.

Art collector, patron, and arbiter, Hanna Bekker vom Rath (1893–1983) was a trailblazer for the artistic avant-garde and one of the most important female personalities in Germany during the pre-war and post-war modern periods. This lavishly illustrated volume provides a lively picture of this remarkable woman.

A refuge for modernism, vom Rath promoted the art of the Brücke artists and the avant-garde in a variety of ways. Even during the National Socialist era, her Blue House in Hofheim served as an intimate space for exchanges and exhibitions for the artists who were her friends. Notably, she was a friend of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Alexej von Jawlensky, Ida Kerkorius, and Paul Klee. After the war, she founded the Kunstkabinett in Frankfurt, the city’s first postwar gallery, and she undertook numerous international journeys on behalf of modern art. The texts and images collected here sketch a multifaceted portrait of this important figure of art history, documenting the far-reaching influence of her achievements.
 

Lisa Marei Schmidt is the director of the Brücke Museum Berlin.

Sabine Maria Schmidt has been the director of the Neue Galerie Gladbeck since 2025.

Florence Thurmes is general director of the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz in Germany.