There are many German dialects, as can be seen on this map, and these dialects can be a problem even to native German speakers. It is estimated that there are between 50 and 250 German dialects, so if you peak standard German, you might find yourself lost when the locals talk among themselves. It is… Continue reading There are between 50 and 250 German dialects
This image dates back to 1811 and is entitled “Winterlandschaft” (Winter Landscape), by Romantic Era painter Caspar David Friedrich. The painting contains details that are hard to see unless you are looking at the actual print or click on it to see a large version. In the foreground a crippled man has abandoned his crutches… Continue reading “Winterlandschaft” (Winter Landscape), by Romantic Era painter Caspar David Friedrich.
This is a scene of a long gone winter, observed from the top of a hill in Meissen, Germany. The painting seems to pull you into a past that you never knew, yet it feels as though you are there, on top of the hill. Painted in 1859, it depicts a snowy early evening scene… Continue reading A long gone winter, observed from the top of a hill in Meissen, Germany
A beautiful blustery winter scene, by Ernst Oehme "Cathedral in Winter,1821"... look forward through the massive arches... you can see an imposing church structure, given scale by how small the monks appear as they walk toward the warm glow of the windows and doorway. Blowing snow slightly obscures the view, but you can see other… Continue reading By Ernst Oehme “Cathedral in Winter,1821”
Whereas the US has Uncle Sam and England has John Bull, Germany has Michael, known as Der Deutsche Michel (The German Michael). “Der Deutsche Michel” ...statue on roof of the Academy of Art in Königsberg, East Prussia His popularity peaked in the 1840s, so perhaps this is why most people never heard of Michel. Even… Continue reading Whereas the US has Uncle Sam and England has John Bull, Germany has Michael, known as Der Deutsche Michel
Between the early 14th and late 19th centuries, a period of cooling known as the Little Ice Age chilled the planet. It was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period. It has been conventionally defined as a period extending from about 1300 to about 1850 Europe bore the brunt of its ill effects for… Continue reading The Little Ice Age started in early 1300’s and Europe bore the brunt of its ill effects for 500 years
This German postage stamp portrays "Winnetou", one of the characters created by author Karl May in the 19th century. In fact, his Wild West books made Karl May one of the best-selling German writers of all time, with about 200 million books sold worldwide...and he greatly contributed to the positive image of Native Americans in… Continue reading Wild West books made Karl May one of the best-selling German writers of all time, with about 200 million books sold
This image of a young hare is one of the most viewed products in our on-line store. The title of this watercolor painting is “Feldhase”, or field rabbit, created over 500 years ago in Nuremburg, Germany by Albrecht Dürer. The fine detail exhibited here is a hallmark of this artist. Dürer has always been well-known… Continue reading The fine detail of this 500 year old painting is a hallmark of Albrecht Dürer
Carl Spitzweg, born in Unterpfaffenhofen in Bavaria, was a German Pharmacist who fell ill shortly after graduating from a Munich University. He used his prolonged period of illness to teach himself how to paint, at first by copying the works of Flemish masters. His professional career started when he sold his first work to a… Continue reading Carl Spitzweg was a German Pharmacist who became a famous artist
This vintage German Railways 1939 Travel poster features Berlin's Kaiser Wilhelm Church and its glamorous metropolitan surroundings at night. This is one of the last works of the very talented and prolific graphic artist Jupp Wiertz. Berlin at Night 1939, by Jupp Wiertz Wiertz reached the zenith of his career at the start of the… Continue reading Berlin at Night 1939 and two other famous posters by Jupp Wiertz
For People Proud of their German Heritage 