"Worpswede is not just a place for me, but a living Gesamtkunstwerk, where nature and art form a harmonious unity."

Heinrich Vogeler (1872–1942) was a multifaceted artist, designer, and committed social reformer, regarded as a central figure of the ›Worpsweder Künstlerkolonie‹. He gained fame for his Jugendstil paintings and illustrations, which depict dreamy, idealized landscapes and harmonious scenes. One of his most renowned works, Sommerabend or Das Konzert (1905), reflects his yearning for a peaceful, idyllic world.

Heinrich Vogeler's close relationship with Martha Vogeler, whom he married in 1901, greatly influenced both his life and artistic development. Together, they transformed the ›Barkenhoff‹ into a Gesamtkunstwerk in the spirit of Jugendstil. This estate, embodying his aesthetic and social ideals, became a creative nucleus and a meeting point for numerous artists and intellectuals.

However, his marriage to Martha was not without challenges. Their relationship became increasingly strained, especially as Vogeler underwent political and personal shifts in the 1910s. In 1920, the couple separated. Subsequently, Vogeler turned the ›Barkenhoff‹ into a socialist commune and devoted himself to social reform and education.

He moved away from purely aesthetic pursuits, engaging more deeply with socialist ideas. This internal transformation was reflected in his art, which became more socially critical and realistic.

During the 1920s, Vogeler became an advocate for communism and later emigrated to the newly formed Soviet Union, where he lived until his death. Heinrich Vogeler's life's work is characterized by the fusion of aesthetics, political commitment, and the pursuit of a fairer world.