Bernd Hartmann (11 October 1905 in Wiedenbrück – 28 October 1972 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück), aliases Bernd Hartmann-Wiedenbrück and Bernd Hartmann-Lintel, was an academic sculptor and sacral artist. He belonged to the Wiedenbrücker Schule school of arts.
Hartmann came from a family of artists. His father Heinrich Hartmann (1868–1937) and his brother Hubert Hartmann (1915–2006) were also sculptors. After having been trained in Wiedenbrück between 1920 and 1924, Bernd Hartmann at first worked in Kleve, Osnabrück and Düsseldorf. From 1927 to 1935, he studied in Munich, followed by professorships in Münster and Munich.Helmut Ebert: Lexikon der Bildenden und Gestaltenden Künstlerinnen und Künstler in Westfalen-Lippe. Münster: Aschendorff 2001. p. 219. During the time of National Socialism, 20 of his works were exhibited at the Great German Arts Exhibition in the Munich House of Arts. Many of his works from this period have to be considered Nazi propaganda art, e.g. the statues Minenstecher (Land Mine Searcher, 1940, sold to Adolf Hitler for a price of 5,900 reichsmark) and Schütze (Rifleman, sold to Hitler for a price of 14,000 reichsmark).GDK-Research. Great German Arts Exhibition: Bernd Hartmann.
After the end of World War II, Bernd Hartmann moved back to his native region and predominantly produced religious art. In 1956, he married the artist Ima Rochelle. Bernd Hartmann died in 1972. In Rheda-Wiedenbrück, the street where he lived is named after him. Furthermore, a sculpture of the artist made by his wife is exhibited in a public park.Heimatfreunde schlagen Erbe aus. Neue Westfälische, 11 March 2015.Wilhelm Ide: Wertvolle Hinterlassenschaft. Neue Westfälische, 4 April 2013.Martin Pollklas: Die „Wiedenbrücker Schule“. Eine Stadt entdeckt ihre künstlerische Tradition. Rheda-Wiedenbrück 2008. pp. 39f.
Sculptures
War memorial in Greffen (1938).Eckhard Möller: Das Kriegerdenkmal in Greffen – ein Zeugnis der Zeitgeschichte. Historical Society Greffen. Pflasterer (Great German Arts Exhibition 1939).Bernd Hartmann: Pflasterer. GDK-Research. Minenstecher (Great German Arts Exhibition 1940).Bernd Hartmann: Minenstecher. GDK-Research. Schütze (Great German Arts Exhibition 1941).Bernd Hartmann: Schütze. GDK-Research. Spähtrupp (Great German Arts Exhibition 1942).Bernd Hartmann: Spähtrupp. GDK-Research. Aufstürmender Grenadier (Great German Arts Exhibition 1943).Bernd Hartmann: Aufstürmender Grenadier. GDK-Research. Deutsche Jugend (Great German Arts Exhibition 1944).Bernd Hartmann: Deutsche Jugend. GDK-Research. Altar Cross Saint Cecilia Church in Westönnen (1953).Dieter Holtheuer: Die Geschichte eines Altarkreuzes. Westönnen-Online. Wooden crib figurine in der Saint Salvator Church in Cologne (1958/70).Kölner Kirchenkrippen im Blick. Domforum Köln 2011/12. p. 27. Memorial in Verne (1964).Der Ruhm zerrann, die Kreuze blieben - als ein Mahnmal für alle Zeiten! Historic newspaper article (1964), Conservation Society Verne. Wayside cross in Mengede (1969).Karlheinz Bohnmann: Wegkreuz am Burgring wird 40 Jahre. Conservation Society Mengede. In collaboration with Ima Hartmann-Rochelle: Baptismal font in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.Waldemar Wucher: Eine Ausstellung in Corvey. Quatember 1973, pp. 41–44.
References