Art scene mourns: Silesian museum loses important collectors

Art scene mourns: Silesian museum loses important collectors

A serious loss for the art scene: The art historian Hans Peter Reisse died on July 14, 2025 in Kassel. Reisse, which was considered an important collector of almost forgotten artists of modernity from Wroclaw, leaves a shining heritage that is mainly connected to the Silesian Museum in Görlitz. This was founded 30 years ago, but had to struggle with a lack of own collections in its early years.

rice contributed significantly to the foundation of the museum. With the support of art connoisseurs such as Peter Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck, Harriet Hauptmann and Rainer Lemor, the museum was finally able to open in 2006. The construction of the museum was not a little thing; Missing stocks meant that the structure of the structure was mainly dependent on loan and gifts. Reisse helped to beat a bridge to the surviving painters of the once -respected Breslauer Academy.

The Breslauer Academy - a center of modern art

The State Academy of Art and Art Business in Wroclaw was an important center for modern art from 1911 until its closure by the National Socialists in 1932. It emerged from the royal art and trade school founded in 1791 and was a place of innovative strength under the direction of Hans Poelzig, comparable to the Bauhaus. Many talented artists such as Oskar Moll and Otto Mueller, whose works are highly valued today, have received their training here. However, these artists were rejected by the Nazi regime and their work was destroyed or distributed.

Reisse was convinced of the relevance of these artists and was intensively committed to rediscovering and maintaining their works. The Silesian Museum offered an impressive insight into the work of this era with the exhibition "Workshops of modernity. Teacher and student of the Breslau Academy 1903–1932". This show was shown from June 25, 2004 to September 25, 2005 in Breslau and Görlitz and exhibited around 180 works by 55 artists who were previously largely unknown.

a lasting inheritance

The death of Hans Peter Reisse has not only hit waves in Görlitz, but also beyond the city limits. His tireless commitment to art history and his passion for the hidden of the Wroclaw Modernity will be remembered. The Silesian Museum and the art scene as a whole were enriched by its contribution. Whether he would have brought many other hidden talents of art history to light remains speculative, but his commitment to it was and remains invaluable.