Ursula Dethleffs - Alemannic carnival in Swabia

1947 - Ursula Dethleffs had become 14 years of age. From the grandmother and parents, the only child was cared known as demure, so well-behaved girl. This strict upbringing is also in her first decorative pen and ink drawing for carnival: "Before the carnival procession" with four young girls, all waiting mannered in high-necked dresses with long skirts on their parade through the town. The clothes are beautiful, but there are no real costumes for the carnival. Only reminds deterrent wooden mask in his lap one of the girls at the Alemannic carnival in Swabia and in Switzerland.

1948 - from the love child develops slowly the girl Ursula: In monochrome woodcut "Eva in Carnival" just the beginning of it can be seen. Almost afraid she stands before her unaccustomed bustle of the carnival. Makeup are only her eyes and lips. The simple, historic hat is a throwback to the past.

"Girls in fancy dress" is new to the watercolor: the carnival is properly painted color! The background in a broad, aggressive-red color with delicate old-red underpainting. While the clothes are here too stylishly elegant, but Ursula emphasized for the first time attacking the breasts of the girl with the red-yellow blue top.

In the drawing, "The young witch" covers all cases - with relish riding the young witch on her broomstick. Ursula - then only 15 years old - is not recognizable in the drawing; this panel of previously love girl succeeds completely. In addition, the subscription is free of pedantry - to her finger into it. In this carnival there's all about the, enjoyed the fullest of life.

1950 block education and conscience the previously briefly broken exuberance of the young artist. The drawing "Masked" shows: The girl fluctuates between good and evil: The movement of the curls, the alternation between light and dark, large eyes show the internal dissonance. Ursula is split between bourgeois decency and their feeling. In spite of everything - she has in the drawing "masked" under control. This contrast of black and white appears as woodcut-like symbol again and again in the astringent, Alemannic carnival.

From 1954 - ie with 21 years - celebrates Ursula in the carnival again with the witches: "Witches from the cycle - Night on Bald Mountain". The dance will be celebrated as a victory for women orgiastic. The important role women play alone.

The drawing is by the way not a single piece, rather it is the part of an entire cycle - as important is the liberation of the young artist!

1955 - Ursula here enjoys the female self-confidence and playing with her role as a witch in the drawing "Witch over the rooftops of the city": The brush drawing in bright red sky reflects the newly
won freedom. The witch hovering over it all. Also on all matters of style of art. Surprisingly appears that the Christian behaved Ursula can not distracted by the church tower. But now Christianity is no institution no longer a contradiction: It is no longer about the Sabbath and the church, it's about God and human beings.

The drawing "Carnival parade in Upper Swabia" returns to the Alemannic carnival: Ursula had been invited to Bad Waldsee. Before the historic town hall with its gables she drew the dance of the cock with hen: the symbol of fertility. In this guise the man was even granted a brief role.

1956: In the ink drawing "Dance of the witch before her hut" celebrating the Witch victory of women and winning their equality: The New grows through the roof of the hut through - up at the sky. The ladder symbolizes the steep path to success. Even the red cat jumps upwards. The joy may be complete. The waving hair of the witch remain as a reminder of the immense effort that was necessary to protect the rights of the women - half of humanity!

In the brush drawing "Witch" shows Ursula Dethleffs the newly acquired security. All previous fears and doubts she has overcome. The equality of women is recognized - and with it all the gender differences.

1990: The "Enchanted Witch" represents the final stage of self-realization by Ursula Dethleffs: In its last artistic phase she devoted herself to the art object. Both, their freedom and artistic creativity combine in the enchanting relief. All External became unimportant. It combines old objects for the new organic artwork. The old shingles are parts of her wings, they levitate away from the earth. In its light transparency it might be the self-portrait of the artist Ursula Dethleffs after her suffering before death in 1994th

31.01.2016

Girls in fancy dress
Ursula Dethleffs
Girls in fancy dress
Watercolor with tempera, 1948
CID: 201061
Eve in the carnival
Ursula Dethleffs
Eve in the carnival
Woodcut, 1948
CID: 282016
Enchanted witch
Ursula Dethleffs
Enchanted witch
Relief wood etc., 1990
CID: 224046
Dancing Witch front of her hut
Ursula Dethleffs
Dancing Witch front of her hut
Ink Repro color, 1956
CID: 271214
Masked
Ursula Dethleffs
Masked
Ink-brush drawing, 1950
CID: 273669
Witches from Cycle - Night on Bald Mountain
Ursula Dethleffs
Witches from Cycle - Night on Bald Mountain
Ink-brush drawing, 1954
CID: 273057
Little witch over the rooftops
Ursula Dethleffs
Little witch over the rooftops
Brush drawing ink, 1955
CID: 273107
Carnival Parade in Upper Swabia (Bad-Waldsee)
Ursula Dethleffs
Carnival Parade in Upper Swabia (Bad-Waldsee)
Ink-brush drawing, 1955
CID: 273255
Witch
Ursula Dethleffs
Witch
Brush drawing with colored ink, 1956
CID: 273571
Carneval
Ursula Dethleffs
Carneval
Drawing with pen and ink, 1947
CID: 272078
The Little Witch
Ursula Dethleffs
The Little Witch
Drawing with pen and ink, 1948
CID: 272255