Hanka Meves' Novel 'Der Künstlerinnen-Klub' Revives Cologne's Modern Art Scene
Hanka Meves' historical work, 'Der Künstlerinnen-Klub' (The Women Artists' Club), released by Emons Verlag in 2026, delves into the art history of Cologne, centering on a collective established in 1911 by painter Olga Oppenheimer and Emmy Worringer within Oppenheimer's studio. Originally exclusive to women, the group later welcomed male artists such as Franz Jansen, who thought their presence would draw serious buyers. Oppenheimer, barred from art academies, operated a painting school for women. The narrative sheds light on Martha Worringer's challenges after marriage and introduces the fictional Mimi, a kitchen assistant. Notable figures like August Macke and Richard Goetz, who encountered resistance to modern art, are featured. The club held important exhibitions, including Franz Marc's inaugural solo show in Cologne. This 336-page novel has received acclaim for its compelling storytelling.
Key facts
- Hanka Meves' novel 'Der Künstlerinnen-Klub' was published by Emons Verlag in 2026.
- The novel is set in Cologne and tells the story of the Künstlerinnen-Klub founded in 1911.
- Olga Oppenheimer and Emmy Worringer founded the club in Oppenheimer's studio in the Gereonshaus.
- Franz Jansen convinced the founders to include men in the club.
- Olga Oppenheimer ran a painting school for women in her studio.
- The novel includes fictional characters like Mimi, a kitchen assistant, to represent the working class.
- Richard Goetz was instrumental in the success of the 1912 Sonderbund exhibition in Cologne.
- The club organized the first solo exhibition of Franz Marc in Cologne and a traveling exhibition of the Blue Rider group.
- The novel highlights the conservative opposition to modern art in Cologne.
- The book includes a list of key historical figures with their dates.
Entities
Artists
- Hanka Meves
- Olga Oppenheimer
- Emmy Worringer
- Franz Jansen
- Martha Worringer
- August Macke
- Richard Goetz
- Axel Hagelstange
- Paul Sérusier
- Max Oppenheimer
- Bertha Worringer
- Hans Purrmann
- Walter Bondy
- Rudolf Großmann
- Rudolf Levy
- Franz Marc
- Paul Klee
- Robert Delaunay
- Gabriele Münter
- Carl Vinnen
- Paul Cézanne
- Vincent van Gogh
- Edvard Munch
- Paula Modersohn-Becker
- Pablo Picasso
- Georges Braque
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Egon Schiele
- Oskar Kokoschka
- Paul Gauguin
Institutions
- Emons Verlag
- Wallraf-Richartz-Museum
- Académie Ranson
- Café du Dôme
- Sonderbund westdeutscher Kunstfreunde und Künstler
Locations
- Cologne
- Germany
- Paris
- France
- Munich
- Berlin
- Gereonshaus