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In the early 1920s, Erna Heinen-Steinhoff (1898–1969), an educated and emancipated woman, and her husband, the poet and journalist Hanns Heinen (1895–1961), founded a cultural and literary salon in Solingen modelled on 19th-century salons. Their homes were given the memorable names ‚Red House‘ and ‚Black House‘. The ‘Black House’ was frequented by famous personalities such as the Nobel Prize winners for literature Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) from India and Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) from Norway.

Towards the end of the 1920s, the Heinen couple met the painter Erwin Bowien. He introduced them to a community of painters, which enriched the salon. Alongside the artists Bettina Heinen-Ayech and Amud Uwe Millies, he formed the ‚Painting Triumvirate‘ of Solingen, reviving the traditional ideal of landscape painting. In contrast to the contemporary art trend towards abstraction, they painted in a figurative style and considered themselves to be part of the tradition of classical plein air painting and the great artist colonies of the turn of the century. Their idiosyncratic artistic work soon attracted attention and acclaim; they created unique portraits, landscapes, and cityscapes. They always painted on location to fully capture what they saw, immediately capturing the light and atmosphere. The exhibition ‚Solingen meets Churfranken‘ presents numerous works by the painter and offers a view into her world.

Visit the exciting exhibition Solingen meets Churfranken, opening hours: Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm, free admission.

Further information about the exhibition and the Solingen Atists‘ Colony is available at: www.kunstraum-churfranken.de or www.bettina-heinen-ayech-foundation.com.