Potsdam Sailing Association presents the museum with Raetsch's masterpiece regatta

Potsdam Sailing Association presents the museum with Raetsch's masterpiece regatta

In the heart of Potsdam, the Potsdam Sailing Association e.V. has opened a new chapter for local art and sailing history. On June 20, 2025, a remarkable painting was handed over to the city administration, which has none other than Karl Raetsch on the subject. The interim member Brigitte Meier thanked for this generous gift, which impressively documented the connection between art and water sports. The work entitled "Regatta" not only reflects the beauty of Lake Templiner, but also Raetsch's years of tie to regional sailing.

The painting was created in 1980 and shows a dynamic sailing scene. Wolfgang Vöse, an active member of the Potsdam Sailing Association, stated that Raetsch often painted on site and regularly visited the club. The artist began expanding the former cemetery chapel to Hermannswerder in 1979, which he converted into his studio and a gallery. This site quickly became a popular meeting place for the local art scene. The gift of the painting is not only a gift to the Potsdam Museum, but also a joy for the entire city, which is interwoven with Raetsch's art history.

insight into the artistic heir

Karl Raetsch, born on October 1, 1930 in Berlin, was not only a virtuoso painter, but also an integral part of the cultural landscape of Potsdam. After completing his training as an electrical engine and studying at the University of Fine Arts in Dresden, he settled as a freelance artist. His work includes numerous landscapes and portraits that are of both artistic and documentary importance.

The returned painting "Regatta" takes on a special position: During the GDR period, it even served as a template for a stamp on the occasion of the 1980th Museum Director Dr. Thomas Steller emphasized how important this picture is for memory of the Potsdam water sports tradition and hopes that the gift will further illustrate the cultural heritage of the sailing association.

growing museum and artistic discounts

With the new growth, the Potsdam Museum now has a total of 120 works by Karl Raetsch, which map the artist's rich work. 100 works were also recorded by his wife, the painter Barbara Raetsch. Despite the impressive collection, there is no comprehensive retrospective of the painter couple. The valuable donation will be extensively restored in the next few weeks before becoming part of the constant exhibition of the museum.

The Potsdamer Sailing Association has been playing a formative role in sporting and social life on Lake Templin for decades. With the handover of the painting of Raetsch, the association not only strengthens its own roots, but also actively contributes to the cultural diversity of the city. This shows once again how narrow art and sport are interwoven in this dynamic city on the water.

Further information about Karl Raetsch can be found at wikipedia , and the gift and the meaning of the painting is detailed on Tagesspiegel . For the entire development of the museum, please consider the reporting on MeetingPoint Potsdam .