Celebrating Else Lasker-Schüler

Google Dooles 06.02.2020 18:37  Date: February 7, 2020 Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Frankfurt-based guest artist , celebrates Jewish German poet and artist Else Lasker-Schüler, widely considered one of the greatest lyricists to write in the German language. On this day in 1937, a Swiss newspaper published her famous poem “Mein blaues Klavier” , which is referenced in today’s Doodle artwork by the piano keys depicted on the camel’s back, alongside other symbols of Lasker-Schüler’s life and work. Born in the western German town of Elberfeld on February 11th, 1869, Elisabeth Schüler was raised in a prominent Jewish family. Homeschooled by her mother, she was encouraged to experiment and explore her artistic interests, and in time, she began to develop her voice as a poet. In 1894, Schüler married Jonathan Lasker and moved to Berlin, where she later published her first poems. She became a well-known fixture in Berlin’s artistic circles, rubbing elbows in cafes with some of the city’s top literary figures. Bringing her vivid work to life, the eccentric Lasker-Schüler could be found dressed in flamboyant robes, assuming the alter ego of one of her vibrant characters, “Jusuf, Prince of Thebes,” depicted in today’s artwork. A prolific poet, Lasker-Schüler established herself as a leading German Expressionist voice and a major feature in the iconic Berlin literary journal Der Sturm , her verses frequently exploring themes of fantasy, loneliness, romance, and religion. Ironically, this master of the German language was forced to flee her home country in the leadup to World War II, eventually settling in Jerusalem. In recognition of her impact, in 1932 Lasker-Schüler received the Kleist Prize, widely considered the highest German literary honor at the time. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Else! Early concept sketch of the Doodle Location: , , , , , , , , , , Tags: , , , , , ,