Internet exhibition in March 2015:
Girls Act
works in 9 different art techniques:
- Behind Glass, Brush drawing, Ceramic sculpture, Etching, Gouache, Oil, Painting on ceramic, Pen and ink, Tapestry
Until 1919 was open to art school for women in Karlsruhe - before it was closed because the professors young art students to study "painting of the naked body" did not want to jeopardize. (Students were not considered at risk).
In our days of limitless supply in the Internet of painted act could have lost its attraction. That's right, if it is not about art. But the artist does not paint from, it interprets sexuality, desire, eroticism and decay.
In this history, it is amazing that Ursula Dethleffs has been painted nude women aged 12 years. We do not know whether the "girl Ursula" - as she was affectionately called in early art criticism - was sexually precocious. But in all of her pictures sounds on a colorful, sensual eroticism. In particular, the early works until age 20 groups of naked girls: They lie together, they admire herself in the mirror, they bathe together or sweat together in the sauna.
Only slowly stands at Ursula the girl alone act as the focal point
Female and male nudes were often painted together. Not so with Ursula. I've found so far only a characteristic drawing titled: "Duke Bluebeard and Judith" VMS no. 273076: The naked girl is from the background threatened by the dressed woman murderer Bluebeard!
I'm not a psychologist. Ursula Dethleffs would certainly also prohibited any assessment by physicians and others. The much simpler reason for the selection could be that has not played a supporting role in Ursula's mother, Fridel Dethleffs-Edelmann, the male nude. No one was so revered by Ursula Dethleffs like her mother.
Much more important than the psychological puzzle is for us, who can view Ursula's works today: There are not many artists who have left such beautiful works in so many different art techniques.
Bernd Riedle February 2015