Margret Hofheinz-Döring
The artist and the work that will be described and analyzed are Margret Hofheinz-Döring and her Rätsel der Psyche, 1970. Margret Hofheinz-Döring is a prominent German graphic artist and painter. She was born in Mainz on May 20, 1910, and received her education at the Academy of Arts in Stuttgart between 1930 and 1934 (Biography). She worked as an educator at high schools but focused on freelancing after marriage and giving birth to her daughter, Brigitte.
Since 1957, she has been a member of the Freudenstadt artist group “Quadrat,” which has impacted her knowledge and techniques related to art (Biography). For almost 70 years of hard work, Margret Hofheinz-Döring created more than 9000 pictures that currently belong to her family, museum, exhibitions, and private collections (Biography). She died on June 18, 1994, in Bad Boll, Germany.
The works of Margret Hofheinz-Döring are characterized by the use of various visual arts styles and techniques, including drawing, oil painting, pastel, watercolor, reverse glass painting, printmaking, and multiple mixed media variants. In addition, she was one of the pioneers in structure painting, an experimental repainting of frames and fabric collages to create the sense of a picture’s growth (Oil Paintings). She additionally experimented with all types of surfaces and materials to explore their potential in her creativity.
Her subjects were also various – she drew people, especially during her study in the academy. In addition, she was inspired by world literature, creating images from the Bible, Hesse’s poems, and Goethe’s Faust I and Parzival (Literature). Moreover, Hofheinz-Döring captured animals, flowers, and landscapes. Finally, she reflected various forms and colors in non-representational compositions.
Rätsel der Psyche, 1970
Rätsel der Psyche, or “Psychic mystery,” 1970, is an oil painting on a canvas with a painted carton frame created by Margret Hofheinz-Döring in 1970, respectively. Four figures are depicted on it, including a young woman, two human-like creatures, and a man in the background. The most peculiar technique Hofheinz-Döring uses is the reflection of symbols and meanings through color and shapes.
In particular, there are two contrasting colors presented in the picture – blue and yellow. The figures’ disposition and the work’s name create a particular meaning – two human-like creatures are a woman’s inner voices. The blue one may be regarded as a voice of sordid desires, while the yellow one is the voice of morality and reason. Their similar lines and shapes indicate their equal value to a person.
From a personal perspective, the painting may be understandable by most viewers as the theme of two “angels” who sit on a person’s shoulders and impact his decisions is common. At the same time, with a more comprehensive analysis of other symbols presented in the picture, it is possible to assess its whole meaning. For instance, a flower in the center is anthurium, symbolizing love, sexuality, and lust (Gaumond). Considering this, it is possible to assume that the man in the background is a woman’s lover, as he is painted blue, their relationship may be immoral. At the same time, while a woman is painted yellow, her hair is slightly blue – this detail may signify that a reasonable person with a dialogue in her head may choose to follow her desires.
Works Cited
“Biography.” Margret Hofheinz-Döring (1910-1994). Web.
Gaumond, Andrew. “Ultimate Guide to Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism.” Petal Republic, 2022. Web.
“Literature.” Margret Hofheinz-Döring (1910-1994). Web.
“Oil Paintings.” Margret Hofheinz-Döring (1910-1994). Web.