Wilhelm HELMSTEDT

1904 - 1976

Paintings - watercolours - gouaches - woodcuts

 


 

Wilhelm Helmstedt in 1962 (Kunstmaler) (image from Whippman's Gallery invitation card 1962)

Wilhelm Helmstedt in 1962

 


 

Brief C.V.

 

WILHELM Peter August HELMSTEDT was born 3rd September, 1904, in Wilhelmshaven, East Friesland, Lower Saxony. In 1924, he moved to Berlin Charlottenburg. After marrying Felizitas Edith Wazinsky in abt. 1926, they moved to Berlin Spandau in 1932; they had 3 sons - Achim, Wolfgang and Jurgen.

Wilhelm Helmstedt attended painting and drawing classes at the private art school Neuhaus, receiving his main input regarding artistic forms and basic composition from K. Behling and K. Sommerfeld, later from Schröder and Wildermann in respect of stage design / scenography, alternating between crafts and fine art painting. He met the Expressionist painters of the time.

In 1924, he was exposed to important movements in museums, the theatre and concerts. As from 1926, Wilhelm Helmstedt was active as a painter, atelier manager and stage designer at various theatres in and outside Berlin - one of his students in this field was Gerhard Schorsch (*1939).

He did the stage sets at the Stadttheater Lübeck during November, 1927; during January to May, 1930, Wilhelm Helmstedt was Head of Stage Design at the Landestheater Schneidemühl.

As from 1932, Wilhelm Helmstedt became a professional painter, he did many sketches for newspapers, portraits, illustrations and was active in theatre and film work, working for U.F.A. (Universum Film), Berlin, until 1939, when he was conscripted to the army.

 

Wilhelm Helmstedt "Child's head", 1937 - woodcut in sepia (coll. Julia Helmstedt)

Wilhelm Helmstedt "Child's head", 1937 - woodcut in sepia (click on image to view 9 early works!)

 

From 1941 to 1949 he served in Poland, France, Yugoslavia and under Gen. Paulus he fought in Stalingrad, where he was taken prisoner. After his release in 1950, he returned to Spandau to carry on as fine arts painter.

As from 1952, Wilhelm Helmstedt was a lecturer at the Volkshochschule Spandau. He collaborated in TV, film and theatre productions, sometimes at the Schlosspark-Theater, Steglitz, Berlin.

He is also mentioned as a sculptor in his earlier days.

Exhibitions curated included Bezirksamt Berlin and in Montreal, Canada.

 

His own work he showed in solo or group shows in Berlin: Galerie Schüler, Galerie Springer ("Gouachen 1954"), Haus am Waldsee, Kunstamt Spandau, also in Bremen, Darmstadt, Ludwigshafen and others, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa.

In Berlin, Wilhelm Helmstedt gave private lessons to his students including Hannelore Buschkötter (*1923); during the early to mid-1950s, Helmstedt offered painting courses at the Volkshochschule Spandau VHS, Berlin - Marianne Drefs (*1941) and Wolfgang G. Farin (*1935) attended his courses (quod vide). There he also lectured on "Contemporary Art".

In May, 1951 or 1952, his watercolour "Abend über Tiefwerder" was included in an exhibition at the Spandauer Heimatmuseum.

In 1955, one year after his show at Galerie Springer, he moved to South Africa to join family who had preceded him by 3 years, retaining his apartment at B20, Franzstrassse 40, Spandau-Berlin, until 1975.

Wilhelm Helmstedt often travelled to Europe; he showed his works on several occasions in Johannesburg until May, 1962, leaving South Africa definitely on 4th June, 1962, for Spandau-Berlin.

During six months in 1961/1962 he travelled 6'000 miles throughout South Africa recording for the first time his impressions of the South African landscape, shown at Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg in May, 1962.

He was a member of the Verein Berliner Künstler from 1961 to 1970 and is listed in the "Mitgliederverzeichnis VBK: Wilhelm Helmstedt 1904-1976 on p. 197

Shortly before reaching his 70th birthday, he had a retrospective show of oil paintings and woodcuts at the Galerie des Vereins Berliner Künstler.

Wilhelm Helmstedt died on 10th March, 1976 in Berlin.

 


 

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT - screenprint of selected works - © Achim Helmstedt / J.R. Helmstedt – use of image strictly not for profit

Print screen of selected watercolours and gouaches by Wilhelm Helmstedt - please click on image for details!

 


 

Selected Exhibitions in South Africa and Germany

 

1954 Galerie Rudolf Springer, Berlin (gouaches)

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT showing gouaches at Galerie Springer, Berlin, in 1954

Click on image for more details and review in unknown Berlin newspaper "Melancholische Malerei"

 

 

1955 – 1961 Whippman’s Gallery, Johannesburg (showing works from Europe), including:

 

1955 Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg (review "German artist's lovely gouaches" )

1956 Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg - 22nd May, 1957 - opened by Ernest Ullmann

1957 Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg - 16th to 26th October, 1957 (Paintings and Drawings) (Second South African Exhibition)

1960 Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg - 14th September, 1960 - opened by Cecil Skotnes

1961 Whippman's Gallery, Johannesburg - 7th March, 1961 - The Paul de Jongh Collection of 78 works (including 2 by Wilhelm Helmstedt)

 

Works done in South Africa during 1961 to 1962 were shown in:

1962 Whippman’s Gallery, Johannesburg - 2nd May, 1962 - opened by Ernest Ullmann

 

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT "The Sentinel", 1962 - oil/board - © A. Helmstedt / J.R. Helmstedt – use of image strictly not for profit

The Sentinel, oil/board - illustrated on invitation card from 1962

 Wilhelm HELMSTEDT “The Sentinel” exhibited at Whippman’s Gallery, Johannesburg, 1962

Please click on images for better view!

“The Sentinel” by Wilhelm Helmstedt was exhibited at Whippman’s Gallery, Johannesburg, 1962, when he also showed for the first time his South African paintings including “Karoo”, “Scottburgh”, “Lion’s Head”, “Near St. Johns”

 

1967 Rathaus Spandau - included in 3-man show of Spandau artists with woodcuts, drawings, sketches and paintings (April)

1969 Lidchi Gallery, Johannesburg (review)

1974 Galerie Verein Berliner Künstler  (11th January to 10th February) - Malerei und Holzschnitte (invitation card) (selected works photographed)

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT "Aus Portugal" on solo show at Galerie Verein Berliner Künstler 1974

"Aus Portugal" - exhibited in Berlin on solo show from January to February, 1974 - please click on image for details)

 

1974 Galerie des Vereins Berliner Künstler, Berlin - Frühjahrs-Ausstellung (30th March to 5th May) - included with one oil "Abendlich" 50x40cm, ill. in exhibition cat.

  


 

Selected works

 

Wilhelm Helmstedt - oil on wood - 55x70 cm ex Priv. Coll., Berlin 2016

Wilhelm Helmstedt - Untitled oil on wood from abt. 1975 - 55x70 cm - Private Coll., Berlin

 

Many works are included in private collections in Germany and over 80 in South Africa.

 

Two works in a private collection in the U.K.:

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT in a private Collection in the U.K. - S+A H - Work 1

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT in a private Collection in the U.K. - S+A H - Work 2

 


 

Selected works from the Wilhelm Helmstedt family archives

in South Africa and Scotland

 

Recorded with the artist's work number - 17 works (watercolours, gouache, mixed media) - click here for PDF

 

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT "Spandau Altstadt im Winter" - Aquarell - WH 322 - © A. Helmstedt / J.R. Helmstedt – use of image strictly not for profit

"Spandau Altstadt im Winter" - watercolour - WH 322 (© J.R. Helmstedt)

 

Artist's work number not known - 7 works (watercolours, gouache, mixed media, oils) - click here for PDF

 

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT "Der Bootshafen" gouache, exhibited at Galerie Schüler, Berlin - WH no. n/a - © A. Helmstedt / J.R. Helmstedt – use of image strictly not for profit

"Der Bootshafen" - gouache - exhibited at Galerie Schüler, Berlin (© J.R. Helmstedt)

 

 

Additional works in the Wilhelm Helmstedt family collection per Julia Helmstedt, updated February, 2017

https://www.facebook.com/wilhelmhelmstedtartist/

 

 

Achim Helmstedt, the eldest son of Wilhelm Helmstedt, with one of Wilhelm's works/ © Copyright to all works by Wilhelm HELMSTEDT held by A. Helmstedt / J.R. Helmstedt – use of image strictly not for profit

Achim Helmstedt, the eldest son of Wilhelm Helmstedt, with one of Wilhelm's works

 


 

Selected works in Public Collections

 

Kunstsammlung Bezirksamt Spandau - Berlin (2 works)

 


 

Signature

 

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT 1904-1976 specimen signature

"Helmstedt"

signature from oil on board on auction in Berlin in February, 2016

Most works are undated, very few early works are signed "W Helmstedt"

Wilhelm HELMSTEDT specimen writing and signature WH 97 (earlier work)

The signature at the back of his works varied over the years and differed from the signature on the art works!

 


 

References

 

Invitation card Whippman’s Gallery, September, 1960 - http://archive.cecilskotnes.com/items/show/2058

Invitation card 1954 Galerie Springer from the Zadik archives

 

 The Star, Johannesburg - 17th May, 1956, p. 11 (illustrated)

The Star, Johannesburg - 17th October, 1957 ("His colour is alluring")

The Star, Johannesburg - mid-1961 - "Hitler banned his paintings" (illustrated)

The Star, Johannesburg – 25th April, 1962 - „Tour treasure“ (illustrated)

Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg – 4th May, 1962 - „A poetic German artist“ by H.E. Winder

Dagbreek, Johannesburg – 6th May, 1962 - „Duitse Besoeker verras met S.A. landskappe“

The Star, Johannesburg – 7th May, 1962 - „Helmstedt’s Africa” (mentioning: “this man from the flats of Friesland …”)

Vaderland, Johannesburg – 7th May, 1962 - “Nuwe siening op landskappe” (poetic semi-abstract) by Dirk Meerkotter

 

Akademie der Künste Archiv, Berlin (Kl. 06.03 Künstler- und Mitgliedermappen – VBK 258)

"Important artists - Künstler des 20. Jahrhunderts" - http://www.list-of-important-artists.de/h.htm (Helmstedt, Wilhelm, Mitglied im Berufsverband Bildender Künstler Berlins 1946-1980, Germany)

Die Kunst und das schöne Heim - Vol 53, 1955 (Bruckmann, München) - ISSN:0023-5423

Artis 26 - Vol. 26, p.37 - 1974 (Neinhaus Verlag, Konstanz) - SABINET

"Verein Berliner Künstler, Versuch einer Bestandsaufnahme von 1841 bis Gegenwart" (Nicolai, Berlin) (1991), p.197 - Mitgliederverzeichnis - ISBN 3-87 584-381-9

BA Spandau / FB Kultur, Zitadelle, Berlin (first major input of c.v.)

 


 

Further References mentioning Wilhelm Helmstedt

 

Designed a book cover in 1931 - Antiquariat Juergen Laessig, Berlin - 2009 Liste 13, Kat. 4, Nr. 64:

64 Grisar, Erich: Bruder, die Sirenen die schreien. Gedichte für meine Klasse. Hirsau, Verlag Die Arche 1931. 8°. 60 S. Orangefarbener Pappband mit dunkelroter Schrift nach Entwurf von Wilhelm Helmstedt.

Nachlass Theodor Blumer

He is mentioned as "Young Wilhelm Helmstedt" in an undated newspaper article "Im Charlottenburger Schloss - Ausstellung Berliner Künstler"

See other references on these links: Buschkötter refs.: B.

Spandauer Zeitung Volksblatt - 8th May, 1951 (or 1952)

Amtliches Fernsprechbuch für den Bezirk der Landespostdirektion Berlin: Branchen-Fernsprechbuch: Kunstmaler - 1958-1959 to 1974-1975

Spandauer Zeitung Volksblatt - 26th February, 1961 ("Kunstbrücke Spandau-Kapstadt")

Spandauer Zeitung Volksblatt - 6th April 1967 ("Winter" illustrated)

Deutsches Bühnen-Jahrbuch, Vol. 80 - FA Günther & Sohn, 1972, listed on p227 on technical staff as "Theatermaler"

Deutsches Bühnen-Jahrbuch, 1972 (Herausg.: Genossenschaft Deutscher Bühnen-Angehörigen, Hamburg), p227

Spandauer Volksblatt - 11th January, 1974 (Erinnerungen und Stimmungen)

Wo Weltgeschichte sich manifestiert (Verlag Haus am Checkpoint Charlie) (1981), ref. under G. Schorsch - ISBN 392248400X

 

Wilhelm Helmstedt invitation card listed on Litnet, South Africa, 2016

Appeal for documents on Litnet, South Africa - 2016

 

Facebook Appeal for more information on Wilhelm HELMSTEDT by courtesy Catharina Weinek - 7th March 2016:

https://www.facebook.com/catharina.weinek/posts/10154010537374740

 


 

Notes

 

Copies of articles and reviews listed afore are available on request, at no charge.

Unfortunately hardly any information has been kept by various institutions both in Germany and South Africa relating to pre-1959. Thus, if you have more information on the artist or images of his works, please contact us at “info at pelmama.org”. Unfortunately, his signature is not easily recognisable unless one knows the artist's name!

Wilhelm Helmstedt who had shown at Galerie Springer in Berlin in 1954, one of the top galleries at the time presenting important international artists, left for South Africa in 1955 for personal reasons and thus missed out on becoming better known!

We thank the many people who have assisted us in assembling the above information, including the Helmstedt family.

 


 

Identification

 

If you own a work by Wilhelm HELMSTEDT, please send us confidentially a good image with usual details for identification and archival purposes - a gratis service!

Please contact "pelmama.thf@gmail.com" in English or German!

 


last updated 20th March, 2017

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