Acquisition of Barlach sculpture for market church delayed
Actually, a spectacular new acquisition should be the focus of the art service in the market church. But nothing came of it: Instead of the sculpture “Teaching Christ” by the century sculptor Ernst Barlach, there was only a large photo of the work of art in the sanctuary on Sunday – “a picture of a work of art”, as Pastor Anke Merscher-Schüler said.
“We regret that the sculpture cannot be handed over to the congregation as planned,” said market church pastor Marc Blessing. Please clarify “legal questions”.
With that, a long ring goes to the acquisition of the sculpture in another round. Barlach’s “Teaching Christ” has already been shown twice in the Marktkirche – during Expo 2000 as part of the “Lost Paradise Lost” exhibition and in 2013 at a Barlach exhibition. For years, the community has been planning to purchase the bronze cast, which is about 87 centimeters tall and weighs around 50 kilograms, but something always came up.
Search for compromise failed
The Marktkirche seems to have had bad luck when acquiring new works of art. It was only a few days ago Debate about the planned Reformation window flared up again; its sponsor, former chancellor Gerhard Schröder, has been criticized for his contacts with Russia.
Recently, the art historian Ingeborg Bloth acquired the “Teaching Christ” from an anonymous private collector for 120,000 euros. The plan was for the 90-year-old to transfer ownership of the sculpture to the Hamburg Barlach Society. This was then to make the work available to the Marktkirche as a permanent loan. It should find its permanent place in the prayer corner and also commemorate Ingeborg Bloth’s deceased husband Klaus Martin, who was on the board of the Barlach Society for a long time.
However, this site failed; Christ’s comeback is indefinitely delayed. The Barlach Society was not willing to sign an agreement on the permanent installation of the sculpture in the Marktkirche. This would have withdrawn the power of disposal over the work of art from the company: “We cannot accept that,” says Jürgen Doppelstein, the chairman of the company. The search for a compromise failed.
There are around 15 bronze casts of the sculpture that Barlach created in 1931 worldwide. It shows a seated Christ, looking half into eternity, opening his hands to the viewer. “He met us with the openness of a hearing person,” said Pastor Blessing in the art service.
The municipality does not know exactly where the sculpture is currently located; the previous owner maintains his anonymity. Nevertheless, people there expect that the “teaching Christ” will ultimately find its place in the market church. It is conceivable that the municipality itself will become the owner, without going through the Barlach Society.
The Church Council is very grateful to Ingeborg Bloth for her initiative, emphasizes Church Councilor Reinhard Scheibe. The congregation is determined to realize the project together with the patron as quickly as possible: “The goal is clear,” he says: “The ‘Teaching Christ’ is coming to the Marktkirche.”
By Simon Benne