"The life with Heinrich was like a constant dance between art and life, between the freedom of creation and the constraints of everyday life."

Martha Vogeler (1879–1961) was the first wife of artist Heinrich Vogeler and a central figure in the history of the artists' village of Worpswede. She played a crucial role in her husband's life and work while also leaving a lasting impression on life in Worpswede.

Martha and Heinrich Vogeler married in 1901 and lived at the ›Barkenhoff‹, which Heinrich transformed into a Gesamtkunstwerk in the spirit of Art Nouveau. The ›Barkenhoff‹ became a creative and social hub for the Worpswede artist community, attracting many artists and intellectuals. As a ›painter's wife‹, Martha managed the household and children, supported Heinrich in his artistic pursuits, and shaped social life at the ›Barkenhoff‹.

Their marriage, however, was fraught with challenges, particularly as Heinrich became increasingly engaged with socialist ideas and societal reforms. The couple separated in 1920, marking a period of transformation for both their lives and artistic endeavors. Heinrich shifted his focus to political art, while Martha left the ›Barkenhoff‹ to forge her own path.

After their separation, Martha established the ›Haus im Schluh‹ in Worpswede, which she developed into a cultural center and later a museum. This became one of the four

Worpswede museums, housing collections of Heinrich's works and preserving the memory of the artists' colony. Martha's dedication to art and her establishment of a memorial space for Heinrich Vogeler and Worpswede artists highlight her significant cultural and emancipatory contributions, cementing her as a pivotal figure in Worpswede's history.