Lovis Corinth
Rudolf Rittner as Florian Geyer
circa 1915
Watercolor and black chalk, heightened with opaque white
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Kupferstichkabinett
The actor Rudolf Rittner (1869–1943) played the title role in the new production of Hauptmann’s Peasant War drama Florian Geyer at the Lessingtheater in Berlin in 1904. The stage design and costumes were by the painter Max Slevogt (1868–1932). Rittner was known to Käthe Kollwitz as Moritz Jäger from the premiere of “The Weavers.” Lovis Corinth (1858–1925) was so impressed by the actor that he depicted him several times in the costume and pose of Florian Geyer.
There is evidence that the artist was familiar with Hauptmann’s play. However, we do not know whether she saw it on stage, and it has not yet been investigated whether it had any influence on her cycle on the Peasants’ War. Kollwitz herself rejected belles-lettres as a source for her work.