Terry Pratchett: The Man Who Brought Wit, Satire, and Magic to Fantasy Literature

 Sir Charles Lavatory, a tradesman of Mollymog Street, Ankh-Morpork. He is the current president of the Guild of Plumbers and Dunnikindivers.

His firm, C.H. Lavatory and Son, manufactures and markets the patented Lavatory device, which is a good idea in principle but hampered by the fact that Ankh-Morpork is yet to (re)discover sewers. His eponymous patented device cleans and flushes beautifully, but in keeping with the general miasma of Ankh-Morpork, not to anywhere in particular. Therefore if the house is nowhere near the Ankh and there isn't a dunnikin nearby nor space to dig one, the whole point is somewhat lost. Still, the Ankhian ethos of "once it's out of the house it's somebody else's problem" lives on. The person whose problem it is almost certainly works for Harry King.

The Lavatory device is fast replacing the earlier model patented by a previous Guild luminary, William de Privy. Perhaps the strangest client for the device was Death. The toilet in the house of Death has a pretty arrangement of green and blue flowers on the cistern. 

When we think of the giants of fantasy literature, a few names inevitably come to mind: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and George R.R. Martin. But Sir Terry Pratchett carved a niche that none of these could quite match—a realm that was equally fantastical, but infused with humor, wit, and profound social insight. Through his ‘Discworld’ series, Pratchett not only entertained millions but also made readers see the absurdities and beauty of their own world reflected in his fantastical one. Let's dive into the life and legacy of the man who dared to make fantasy laugh at itself.

 - Early Life and Writing Journey

Born in 1948 in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, Terry Pratchett was an only child who showed an early love for reading and writing. His love for literature led him to work as a journalist by the age of 17. His first published novel, ‘The Carpet People’, came in 1971, a children’s fantasy that he would later rewrite and republish to fit his evolved style. But it was in the 1980s that Pratchett found his calling: the ‘Discworld’ series.

 - Enter ‘Discworld’: A Round World on the Back of a Giant Turtle

Pratchett’s most famous creation, ‘Discworld’, began in 1983 with ‘The Colour of Magic’. The premise was simple but brilliantly absurd—a flat world held up by four giant elephants who, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle floating through space. From there, the ‘Discworld’ series grew into a sprawling collection of 41 novels, each filled with hilariously flawed characters, outrageous plots, and clever commentary on real-world issues.

At first, ‘Discworld’ began as a parody of traditional fantasy. Wizards, witches, heroes, and gods all made appearances, but in ways no one expected. Rincewind, the cowardly wizard, is a terrible student at Unseen University with only one spell in his mind and a knack for running away. The Witches—Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick—reveal that being magical is as much about pragmatism as it is about power. Sam Vimes, head of the City Watch, begins as a down-on-his-luck alcoholic but becomes a moral compass for the city of Ankh-Morpork, where he faces crime and corruption with a reluctant but deep-rooted sense of justice.

- Humor with Depth: Why Pratchett's Style Resonates

Pratchett had an extraordinary gift for blending humor with insight. Through his comical prose, he explored topics ranging from religion and death to politics and technology. His books were not merely humorous fantasy; they were deeply satirical, often poking fun at human nature and societal structures. Take, for instance, ‘Small Gods’, where he critiques organized religion by following the journey of a god who’s lost his believers. Or ‘Guards! Guards!’, which examines justice and the role of law enforcement in a society that’s built on layers of corruption.

His humor was distinctly British, often using irony and understatement, but it appealed to readers worldwide because it was so fundamentally human. Pratchett had a way of making readers laugh and think simultaneously, a skill few writers ever master.

 - Building a Rich World with Beloved Characters

One of Pratchett's greatest strengths was his characters, who felt real and multi-dimensional despite the fantastical setting. His protagonists, such as the bumbling wizard Rincewind, the no-nonsense witch Granny Weatherwax, and the determined Sam Vimes, were deeply flawed, often grumpy, and sometimes downright rude. But they were relatable in a way that fantasy heroes often aren’t—they felt like people you might actually know (or at least hear about) in real life.

Ankh-Morpork, the city where many of his stories take place, became one of the most famous fictional cities in literature. It was a chaotic, multicultural, crime-ridden city with bizarre laws and an even more bizarre police force. Yet Pratchett wrote it with such affection that readers couldn’t help but love it. Through ‘Discworld’, he created a universe as diverse and contradictory as our own.

 - Legacy and Influence

Terry Pratchett’s impact on literature cannot be overstated. He changed what people expected from fantasy, showing that the genre could be funny, insightful, and critical. His unique take on fantasy inspired many writers who wanted to break away from traditional tropes and bring humor into speculative fiction.

In 2007, Pratchett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, specifically a rare form called posterior cortical atrophy. Despite this, he continued to write, using voice recognition software to dictate his stories as his condition progressed. Pratchett’s diagnosis brought him into the public eye as an advocate for Alzheimer's awareness and research, even contributing to documentaries about living with the disease.

When he passed away in 2015, the world mourned the loss of a true literary icon. Fans celebrated his life by raising awareness for Alzheimer's research, creating fan works, and even posting ‘GNU Terry Pratchett’ online—a reference to the Discworld concept of keeping someone’s name alive forever in the “clacks,” a system of telegraph-like communication.

- Why We Still Love Terry Pratchett

 

Terry Pratchett’s work continues to resonate because it goes beyond escapism. He didn’t just create a fantasy world; he created a mirror that reflected the best and worst of our own. Through humor, he encouraged readers to look at themselves and their societies with a critical, yet forgiving eye. His books taught us that while the world may be ridiculous and frustrating, it’s also worth laughing at—and worth fighting for.

For readers discovering Pratchett today, the humor and insights remain as relevant as ever. And for longtime fans, returning to ‘Discworld’ feels like visiting an old friend who still has plenty of stories to share. Sir Terry Pratchett left us with a treasure trove of wisdom and laughter, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

- Where to Start with Pratchett?

If you’re new to Terry Pratchett, ‘Discworld’ can seem overwhelming due to its sheer volume. Here are a few great starting points based on your interests:

- „If you enjoy police procedurals”: ‘Guards! Guards!’ (The first book in the City Watch subseries)

- „If you’re into witchcraft and folklore”: ‘Wyrd Sisters’ (A good entry into the Witches subseries)

- „For social satire with religious themes”: ‘Small Gods’

- „If you want a taste of Pratchett’s take on academia and magic”: ‘The Colour of Magic’ or ‘Equal Rites’

- Final Thoughts

Terry Pratchett’s ‘Discworld’ series is not just a collection of books; it’s a cultural touchstone. In an age where fantasy often leans towards the dark and gritty, Pratchett reminds us that humor, warmth, and humanity have a place in fantasy too. His writing is timeless, bridging gaps between genres and readers of all kinds. If you haven’t yet explored the wonders of Ankh-Morpork or traveled alongside Granny Weatherwax, now is the perfect time to dive in. You may just find that you come back seeing your own world a little differently—and with a lot more laughter.

Georg Hilz

 

Georg Hilz - From Bavaria to Galicia

©Andrzej Philips

 

While searching for items related to Galicia, I came across a watercolor painting titled "Sunday Chat, Dristyow Galicia" dated 15.10.1916, which now corresponds to Poland, Ukraine, and Slovakia. The artist was identified as G. Pilz.

 

The painting Sunday Chat, Dristyow Galicia

Attempts to identify the location "Dristyow" or the painter "G. Pilz" (literally meaning "mushroom") were unsuccessful. A closer inspection of the signature on the painting convinced me that it was actually "G. Hilz." This led to finding information about the artist Sepp Hilz.

 Sepp Hilz (1906-1967)

 Sepp Hilz was a renowned German painter. He learned to paint from his father, Georg Hilz, who was also a painter and restorer primarily working for Bavarian churches. Over time, Sepp began assisting and collaborating with his father. He also benefited greatly from copying works of old masters like Dürer, Cranach, and Altdorfer. From 1921 to 1927, Sepp Hilz lived in Munich, studying at the Kunstgewerbeschule while privately studying graphic art under Moritz Heymann and painting under Xaver Dietrich. He further honed his skills by making numerous copies of paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer van Delft, and Brouwer. During this period, he started exhibiting his works regionally and working for Bavarian churches.

 

Self-portrait of Sepp Hilz

     

 "Old Peasant Woman with Headscarf" (Study for the painting "Old Woman with Headscarf," which brought Hilz his first success at the exhibition at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst in Munich in 1938)[1].

 In 1928, he returned to his hometown of Bad Aibling, where he organized exhibitions and cultural events with other young painters. His works from after 1930 show influences of Wilhelm Leibl's art. He soon gained recognition as an excellent portraitist, religious painter, landscape artist, and primarily a genre painter depicting rural Bavarian life, earning the nickname "the peasant painter" (Bauernmaler).

From 1938 to 1944, Sepp Hilz participated in the propaganda Great German Art Exhibitions at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst in Munich, showcasing 22 works, including portraits, nudes, and genre scenes, such as the iconic "Peasant Venus," "Vanity," and the triptych "Peasant Trilogy." These works were well-received and approved by Nazi authorities; Joseph Goebbels bought one, and Adolf Hitler purchased two others. However, this success had later repercussions. After the war, Hilz was boycotted. For instance, his participation in a 1951 exhibition in Munich met with protests. Only a few years later did his undeniable talent overcome these objections, and from 1956, his paintings returned to exhibition halls, allowing him to work again as a painter and restorer of church paintings. Today, Hilz's works are primarily in private collections, with many having reached the United States post-war. There are few of his works in German museum collections, with a few pieces in the museum in Bad Aibling. Hilz's art continues to attract interest, with a significant exhibition held in 1995 on Frauenchiemsee Island (Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria)[2].

However, the painting dated 15.10.1916 could not have been by Sepp Hilz, and the "G. Hilz" signature aligns perfectly with that of his father, Georg Hilz. It turns out that Sepp's father, Georg Hilz, was also a well-known artist.

 

Georg Hilz (1881-1949)

 

Georg Hilz was a prominent church painter from Aibling whose works significantly contributed to the artistic heritage of several churches in Bavaria. His most notable work includes the renovation of the pilgrimage church of the Holy Cross in Thann in 1936. During this renovation, Hilz created a fresco on the flat ceiling of the nave depicting the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in Rome[3], a significant historical event where Emperor Constantine defeated Maxentius. He also painted the altarpieces of the side altars which portray Saint Conrad and Saint Elizabeth[4],[5].

 

Georg Hilz's painting "Sunday Chat, Dristyow Galicia”, likely created during the German-Russian campaign in 1916 in the locality of Dryszczów (now Nadrichne, Ternopil district, Ukraine)[6], adds significant historical context to the artistic legacy of both Georg and his son, Sepp Hilz.

 

The altarpieces of the side altars, which depict St. Brother Konrad and St. Elisabeth, were created by the Aiblinger church painter Georg Hilz on the occasion of the renovation in 1936.[7]

 

Georg Hilz's Contributions:

- Thann Church Fresco: One of his most notable works is the fresco on the flat ceiling of the nave of the pilgrimage church of the Holy Cross in Thann, depicting the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. This work, created during the 1936 renovation, highlights his ability to blend historical themes with religious art.

- Altarpieces: He also painted the altarpieces of the side altars in Thann Church, depicting Saint Conrad and Saint Elizabeth, further showcasing his skill in religious painting.

 

Style and Legacy:

- Artistic Style: Georg Hilz is known for his detailed and expressive style that vividly brings religious scenes to life, contributing significantly to the spiritual ambiance of the churches he worked on.

- Blending Old and New: His work in Thann is particularly noted for blending old and new artistic elements, preserving the historical integrity of the site while enhancing its visual appeal for contemporary worshippers.

 

Georg Hilz - Village Street with Telephone Poles Leading to Willing near Bad Aibling[8]

 

 

Genealogy of Georg Hilz[9]:

- Birth: April 7, 1881, Mauern bei Moosburg, Freising, Upper Bavaria, Germany

- Death: April 25, 1949, Mauern bei Moosburg, Freising, Upper Bavaria, Germany

- Parents:

  - Father: Laurentius Hilz (1850 - 1914)

  - Mother: Agatha Lohmaier (1850 - unknown)

- Siblings:

  - Maria Hilz (1882 - 1882)

  - Andreas Hilz (1883 - 1883)

  - Lorenz Hilz (1886 - 1918)

  - Franz Xaver Hilz (1887 - 1887)

  - Josef Hilz (1898 - 1898)

 

- Family:

  - Wife: Maria Deckinger (1870 - unknown)

  - Son: Josef Georg Franz "Sepp" Hilz (1906 - 1967)

 

Conclusion:

Georg Hilz's work, characterized by its detailed and expressive style, remains influential, with significant contributions to Bavarian church art. His legacy, continued by his son Sepp Hilz, highlights the importance of preserving cultural and historical elements through art.

---

[1] https://www.gailerfineartchiemsee.de/

[2] https://www.agraart.pl/

[3] The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on 28 October 312 AD. It takes its name from the Milvian Bridge, an important route over the Tiber. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. Maxentius drowned in the Tiber during the battle; his body was later taken from the river and decapitated, and his head was paraded through the streets of Rome on the day following the battle before being taken to Africa. The Milvian Bridge is a bridge over the Tiber in northern Rome, Italy. It was an economically and strategically important bridge in the era of the Roman Empire.

[4] Heimat am Inn, gegruendet von Anton Demp, Rosenheim 1951

[5] https://www.erzbistum-muenchen.de/pfarrei/stadtkirche-bad-aibling/cont/61646

[6] It is unlikely that this is Dryszczów (now Podlisne, Chortkiv district, Ukraine).

[7] https://www.erzbistum-muenchen.de/pfarrei/stadtkirche-bad-aibling/cont/61646

[8] Picture public domain, https://artvee.com/

[9] http://www.genealogie-oberbayern.de

The stamp commemorating Ada Blackjack

In my previous article about Ada Blackjack, published here on August 9, 2024, I wrote: “It's curious that no postal administration, particularly American, has ever dedicated a stamp to Ada Blackjack Johnson. I have submitted a petition to the United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Ada Blackjack Johnson.” 

Today, I received the following response to my petition:  

Let’s hope that stamps featuring Ada Blackjack will be released. 

Ada Blackjack

 Surviving the Arctic: The Remarkable Journey of Ada Blackjack

©Andrzej Philips

 

Ada Blackjack Johnson (1898-1983) was an Inupiat woman who gained fame as the sole survivor of the ill-fated 1921 Wrangel Island Expedition. Her story is a remarkable example of resilience and courage in the face of the harsh Arctic environment. Her role was to serve as a cook and seamstress for a group of four men who were to conduct research on the remote island located north of Siberia. Ada agreed to join the expedition because she needed money to pay for her son's medical treatment.

The was an ambitious but ultimately tragic attempt to claim Wrangel Island, a remote Arctic territory, for Canada. Organized by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a well-known Canadian Arctic explorer, the expedition sought to establish a permanent settlement on Wrangel Island, located in the Chukchi Sea, north of Siberia.

 

The Expedition Team

The expedition team consisted of five members:

- Allan Crawford (20 years old): The leader of the group, a Canadian who had previously worked with Stefansson.

- Frederick Maurer (28 years old): An experienced American sailor with Arctic experience.

- Milton Galle (19 years old): An American from Texas who served as the expedition's assistant.

- Lorne Knight (28 years old): An experienced explorer who had already participated in Stefansson's previous Arctic expeditions.

- Ada Blackjack (23 years old): An Inupiat woman hired as a cook and seamstress. She was a single mother who joined the expedition out of financial necessity to support her son.

 

 Life on Wrangel Island

The team arrived on Wrangel Island in September 1921, bringing with them a limited supply of food and equipment. Stefansson had promised that a resupply ship would arrive the following summer, but the harsh Arctic conditions made life on the island difficult. The group had to rely on hunting for food, and the expected resupply ship never arrived. As the months passed, the situation became increasingly dire. By the summer of 1922, it became clear that the team was in serious trouble. Their supplies were running low, and hunting proved difficult in the harsh Arctic environment. The team was forced to eat the meager game they could catch, but it wasn't enough to sustain them.

 

 The Tragic Outcome

In January 1923, three of the men—Crawford, Maurer, and Galle—attempted to reach the Siberian mainland on foot across the ice in search of help, but they were never seen again. Lorne Knight, who stayed behind with Ada Blackjack, became gravely ill, likely from scurvy and malnutrition. Ada, despite her initial reluctance and lack of experience in hunting, managed to take care of Knight for as long as she could. Unfortunately, he died in June 1923, leaving Ada as the sole survivor.

 

 Ada Blackjack's Survival and Rescue

Ada Blackjack spent several months alone on Wrangel Island, surviving through sheer determination and the survival skills she had developed. In August 1923, she was rescued by a relief party sent by Stefansson, who had finally realized the dire situation on the island. Ada was the only survivor of the expedition.

 

 Aftermath

The 1921 Wrangel Island Expedition ended in tragedy, with the deaths of all four men involved. Stefansson's reputation suffered significantly as a result, as he was widely criticized for the poor planning and lack of support that led to the disaster. Ada Blackjack, who had joined the expedition out of desperation, returned to Alaska and lived a quiet life, though her story eventually became well-known as a testament to human resilience and survival.

Vilhjalmur Stefansson

Vilhjalmur Stefansson[1] is widely known, with numerous publications dedicated to his life and work[2]. Besides the Wrangel Island expedition, Stefansson resumed his explorations by sledge over the Arctic Ocean (locally known as the Beaufort Sea), departing from Collinson Point, Alaska, in April 1914. On May 28, 1986, the United States Postal Service issued a 22-cent postage stamp in his honor. Similarly, Canada commemorated Stefansson's 1914 expedition in its 1989 "Exploration of Canada" series. The Marshall Islands also honored Stefansson in their "Arctic Explorers" series, issued on April 14, 2009.

USA stamp commemorating Vilhjalmur Stefansson

  

        

Stamp and the set “Arctic Explorers” edited by Marshall Islands

Canadian stamp commemorating  Vilhjalmur Stefansson

Full  Canadian set

 Full American set

Petition to United States Postal Service

 

It's curious that no postal administration, particularly American, has ever dedicated a stamp to Ada Blackjack Johnson. I have sent a petition to United States Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Ada Blackjack Johnson.

 

Early Life

Ada Blackjack was born in 1898 in a small Inupiat village in Alaska. Raised by missionaries, she lost her parents at a young age and had to learn how to survive in the challenging conditions of the Arctic. In 1917, she married Jack Blackjack, with whom she had a son named Bennett. Their marriage ended in divorce, leaving Ada as a single mother in Anchorage, struggling to support herself and her son, who was suffering from tuberculosis.

 

Return to Civilization

Ada was rescued in August 1923 by a relief party that found her as the sole survivor of the expedition. Upon her return to Anchorage, she became a hero, though she was reluctant to give interviews and avoided the spotlight.

 Later Years

After her return from the expedition, Ada continued to struggle with poverty and tried to provide a better life for her son. She eventually settled in Seattle, where she spent the rest of her life. Although she never achieved significant fame or fortune, her story became a symbol of courage and perseverance.

 

Ada Blackjack passed away in 1983, leaving behind a legacy as a quiet hero whose life was a testament to the extraordinary strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. Her story was later chronicled in books and films, ensuring that her remarkable life would be remembered by future generations.

More about Ada Blackjack life you may read here:

Ada Blackjack: Forgotten Queen of Arctic Expeditions

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/ada-blackjack-forgotten-queen-of-arctic-expedition-survivors

and Ada Blackjack

https://raunerlibrary.blogspot.com/2012/04/ada-blackjack.html

---

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilhjalmur_Stefansson

[2] https://web.archive.org/web/20070823030952/http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/stefansson.html

Luís de Camões

 Celebrating 500 Years of Luís de Camões: The Legacy of Portugal's Literary Giant

 ©Andrzej Philips

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest literary figures. Known for his epic poem *Os Lusíadas*, Camões' work has left an indelible mark on Portuguese literature and culture. His life and writings continue to be celebrated for their profound influence and artistic brilliance.

The Portuguese Post commemorates the 500th anniversary of Camões' birth with stamps (€0.65 and €1.30) and a block (€3.50) issued on July 10, 2024.

The €0.65 stamp presents a portrait of the poet (the so-called "Retrato a vermelha"), and the €1.30 stamp shows an extract from *Os Lusíadas* – Canto 1, verse 2. The souvenir sheet presents an extract from *Os Lusíadas* – Canto 1, verse 1, and a painting by Alfredo Roque Gameiro, "A partida do Vasco da Gama a Índia em 1497" ["Vasco da Gama's departure to India in 1497"].

The First Day Cover presents the caravel of Fernão Cabral.

 

 

Canto (book) 1, verse 2 (the stamps for €1,30)

 

Portuguese:

E também as memórias gloriosas

Daqueles Reis, que foram dilatando

A Fé, o Império, e as terras viciosas

De África e de Ásia andaram devastando;

E aqueles, que por obras valerosas

Se vão da lei da morte libertando;

Cantando espalharei por toda parte,

Se a tanto me ajudar o engenho e arte.

English:

And also the glorious memories

Of those kings who expanded

The Faith, the Empire, and the vicious lands

Of Africa and Asia they devastated;

And those who by valiant deeds

Are escaping the law of death;

Singing, I will spread everywhere,

If my talent and skill help me to do so.

 

Canto 1, verse 1 (the souvenir sheet)

Portuguese:

As armas e os barões assinalados

Que da ocidental praia Lusitana

Por mares nunca de antes navegados

Passaram ainda além da Taprobana[1],

Em perigos e guerras esforçados

Mais do que prometia a força humana,

E entre gente remota edificaram

Novo Reino, que tanto sublimaram;

 

English:

The arms and the famed heroes

Who from the western shore of Lusitania

By seas never before sailed

Went beyond Taprobana[2],

In dangers and wars strived

More than human strength promised,

And among remote peoples built

A new kingdom, which they so exalted;

 

The Life of Luís de Camões

 

Luís de Camões was born in 1524, though the exact date and location of his birth remain subjects of speculation. He lived during a time of great exploration and change, with the Portuguese Empire reaching its zenith. Camões' life was as adventurous and tumultuous as the times he lived in. He traveled extensively, including time spent in India, China, and Mozambique, experiences that deeply influenced his writing.

 

Despite his contributions to literature, Camões faced numerous hardships, including imprisonment and financial difficulties. His personal struggles and adventurous spirit are reflected in his works, making his poetry rich with emotion and experience.

 

Os Lusíadas: A National Epic

 

"Os Lusíadas", published in 1572, is Camões' magnum opus and a cornerstone of Portuguese literature. The epic poem celebrates the voyages of Portuguese explorers, particularly Vasco da Gama, and the discovery of the sea route to India. Through this work, Camões not only glorified Portugal's maritime achievements but also explored themes of heroism, patriotism, and human endeavor.

 

The poem is a blend of classical and Renaissance influences, showcasing Camões' mastery of language and poetic form. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its literary excellence and its significance in Portuguese culture.

 

Camões' Literary Legacy

 

Beyond "Os Lusíadas", Camões wrote numerous lyrical poems, including sonnets, elegies, and eclogues. His lyrical poetry is characterized by its emotional depth, exploring themes of love, loss, and longing. Camões' ability to convey complex emotions with clarity and beauty has earned him a place among the great poets of the Renaissance.

 

His works have been translated into numerous languages, allowing his influence to extend far beyond Portugal. Camões is often compared to other literary giants such as Dante, Shakespeare, and Cervantes, highlighting his global significance.

 

Celebrating Camões Today

 

The 500th anniversary of Camões' birth is being celebrated with various events and initiatives aimed at honoring his legacy. Literary festivals, academic conferences, and public readings of his works are taking place in Portugal and around the world. These celebrations are not only a tribute to Camões' contributions to literature but also an opportunity to explore the ongoing relevance of his themes and ideas.

 

The Portuguese government and cultural institutions are also promoting educational programs to introduce Camões' works to new generations. By doing so, they ensure that his legacy continues to inspire and influence future writers and readers.

 

Luís de Camões remains a towering figure in the world of literature, his works capturing the spirit of his time while continuing to resonate with readers today. As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his birth, we are reminded of the enduring power of his poetry and the lasting impact of his artistic vision. Through his epic tales of adventure and his poignant lyrical verses, Camões invites us to explore the depths of the human experience and the heights of creative expression.

 

---

[1] In "Os Lusíadas", "Taprobana" refers to the island of Sri Lanka, known in ancient and classical literature as Taprobana or Taprobane. This name was used by Greek and Roman geographers to describe the island, and it appears in various classical texts. Luís de Camões includes this reference to emphasize the vast and uncharted territories explored by the Portuguese during their voyages of discovery.

[2] See the end note above

Otto Engelhardt - Kyffhäuser

 Auf dem Treck[1]  of Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser

© Andrzej Philips

 

In the “Remembrance of the resettlement of the Galician Germans 1939/40”  Erich Müller writes “Heim ins Reich” - “Home to the Reich” was the slogan at the time, which for the people of Galicia Palatinate meant the end of their 160-year history in the East. At that time they followed this call almost completely, but did not know that the majority of them had been chosen to push the Poles out of the occupied western Polish areas[2]. Short time Afterwards, many of their men paid for Hitler's campaigns with their lives. When the war led to Germany's defeat, they found themselves as refugees or expelled people in the Germany that had once called them home to the Reich.

Further Erich Müller writes that the German Post in the Generalgouvernement issued on October 26, 1940 a series of stamps depicting the resettlement to mark the first anniversary of the Generalgouvernement.

The article contains pictures of three stamps from the General Government with resettlement motifs presenting three resettler heads - those of a girl, a farmer's wife, and  a farmer, which are supplemented by symbols. The drawing representing Marie Eppler was  used as a stamp template. Mrs. Marie Eppler’s (married Kraus) photo in the age of 75 is presented in  the Erich Müller’s article.

 

The stamp with Maria Eppler presents also a plowing farmer who is predicted to have a sunny future under the swastika. The fate of the resettlers ended in catastrophe instead. The symbol of the third stamp with the farmer's head, which is also shown in color on the cover, shows a sleigh belonging to the Haulanders, who were also resettled. The picture is reminiscent to the wagons of the Galician German farmers who had resettled in the winter[3]. 

 

The stamps with farmer were also issued in four different colours and face value  with the inscription “Winterhilfswerk” (Winter Welfare).

 

The stamps were based on drawings of Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser.

Otto Engelhardt- Kyffhäuser (born on  5th January 1884 in Artern; died on 7th June 1965 in Göttingen) was a German painter and art teacher.

Engelhardt, who came from the Prussian province of Saxony (he received the nickname because of his birthplace near Kyffhäuser[4]), trained at the art academies in Kassel from 1901-07, including Berlin and Weimar, where he was a member of the Weimar etching association. In 1914 his works were exhibited at the Kunstverein Darmstadt. During the First World War he was a senior field hunter in the 4th reserve hunter battalion and a war painter in the fighting troops. From 1919 to 1939 he worked in Görlitz, became a teacher of art education at the Luisenschule there (today the Joliot-Curie-Gymnasium) and appeared in public with numerous pen drawings, etchings and paintings. In 1928, several murals he designed were ceremoniously unveiled in the auditorium of the Görlitz Luisenschule. In 1930 he was a co-founder of the Rotary Club of Görlitz. He joined the NSDAP and SS, came to terms with contemporary propaganda needs, drew numerous war pictures and portrayed several National Socialist greats.

In January 1940, Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser accompanied a trek of ethnic Germans at Himmler's request. These were resettled in the Warthegau from Galicia and Volhynia, which were part of Soviet-annexed eastern Poland. In order to create space for settlement here, 120,000 Poles had previously been deported. Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser documented the trip with numerous sketches and drawings, which were exhibited in Berlin on March 30, 1940 and published as a book in the same year. Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser published "The Book of the Great Trek" (Vom Grossem Treck) together with Alfred Karasek, the area representative in the resettlement staff, and Heinrich Kurtz from the Krakow Office of the Governor General; SS Obergruppenführer Werner Lorenz contributed a foreword. The images served as a template for the Nazi propaganda film “Homecoming” by Gustav Ucicky, the creation of which he also documented. The film in turn inspired him to create pictures.

His drawing were also used for the propaganda cards “Vom Grossem Treck” (Ther great treck). All these drawings are valuable sources for the genealogy of Galician Germen because they contain also the description of the drawn persons, including their personal date like place and birth date.

Farmer Anton Steckbauer

The card describing Farmer Anton Steckbauer

 

For example, the card presenting Anton Steckbauer contains his exact birthdate 6th May, 1896, and place – Ludwikówka, what corresponds with data in OFB (Ortsfamilienbuch/Family Book[5]):

STECKBAUER (= Stekbauer), Anton, born on 6.5.1866 in Ludwikówka[6] {Myslivka} (Dolina)/Gal. [UA], House Nr. 21., son of Anton Steckbauer and FICHTEL (∞ Schaller, Steckbauer), Katharina born 1837 in Tarnów/Gal.

 

Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser successfully took part in several exhibitions in Germany with his works, e.g.:

·         at the Great German Art Exhibition of 1940 in the House of German Art in Munich,

·         Exhibition “Repatriation of Germans from Galicia” from February 2nd to 12th, 1940 in the Krakow Art Hall (it was the first exhibition by a German artist in occupied Poland and the first exhibition about the resettlement campaign).

·         A separate exhibition of his pictures was opened under the title The Great Trek 1940 in the Ständehaus Görlitz.

·         The exhibition With Man and Horse and Carriage... followed in 1941 in the Luisenschule in Görlitz.

·         1941 exhibition Flanders and the Netherlands: People and Landscape, Saarbrücken, organized by the VDA Gauverband Westmark and the Saar-Palatinate Association for Arts and Crafts.

·         At the exhibition German Artists and the SS in 1944 he showed the picture “Before the Departure” in Breslau and the pictures “Trek Rolls Over the Bridge at Przemysl” and “A Tank Hunter of the SS Pol. Div.” in Salzburg.

 

Works by Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser can be seen today in museums in Görlitz and Bautzen. There is a mural by him in the Artern town hall. Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser was married to Dorothea (née Weise)[7].

Soon after the last war, Engelhardt was the first German painter to be invited to Paris to organize an Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser exhibition. What he showed became a sensation for all art connoisseurs in France. It was a new process in painting, the monotype, as he called it. They outdid each other in Paris in enthusiastic appreciations. For example, the "Pariser Currier" headlined his essay: "With melting oil paint" and wrote: "After long attempts, he finally found a way that opened up completely new possibilities of artistic expression for him. Above all, he was helped by a binder he discovered, which gives the colours the greatest elasticity and suppleness. The work, applied to a light-coloured metal plate, is heated to such an extent that the colours begin to melt and often converge like enamel. The scraped out highlights and contours, however, even if they are wafer-thin, do not merge, but remain razor-sharp and correct. Extraordinarily powerful effects are achieved that cannot be achieved by any other technique."

"La Revue moderne des arts et de la vie", however, calls Engelhardt "a real artist who is focused on greatness". He is "swept away by his inspiration" and he is not afraid to "tackle even the most sublime subjects". And further: "It would be wrong to classify Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser in any school. His powerful personality is self-sufficient." This is followed by a detailed appraisal of the individual "masterpieces" exhibited in this prestigious journal and the conclusion: "It is not possible to give in a few dry sentences even a reasonably clear idea of such an abundance of inspiration and imagination as these works reveal. How far we are from the trimmed art of so many artists of our time, who are content with the limited horizon of a café or a dance hall! Therefore, one must take one's hat off to the work of Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser without hesitation."

While the Parisian press spoke of "the most sublime themes", such were also shown in particular in the exhibitions that Engelhardt presented on the basis of his repeated travels to and through Egypt. In 1960, as part of the new cultural agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Arab Republic, he was invited to show his large monotype exhibition with Egyptian and some German motifs in February at the Kunsthalle Alexandriens. It was opened in Cairo by the Egyptian Minister of Culture and the German Ambassador. The Minister of Culture acquired for the new modern museum in. Cairo also has the image of the Erfurt Cathedral and the Severi Church.

While the "most sublime subjects" in Egypt included many of the country's sanctuaries and buildings, which are several thousand years old, Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser was invited to Rome to paint the sites of Christian culture. Although a Protestant, he won friends through his art in the "Institutum Germanicuni". From this place he was given a special place in St. Peter's Basilica, from which he could capture the Pope in various positions in the middle of the service. All of his Roman paintings are also of radiant colour and do not fail to have an effect on people of other faiths.

Through such achievements and successes, Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser became one of Germany's best-known painters[8].

 

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[1] On the treck (German).

[2] Erinnerung an die Umsiedlung der Galiziendeutschen 1939/40 (Remembrance of the resettlement the Galician Germans 1939/40),  Erich Müller, Zeitweiser 2009 der Galiziendeutschen, p. 24

[3] Erich Müller, Zeitweiser 2009 der Galiziendeutschen, ibidem p. 26

 

[4] The Kyffhäuser sometimes also referred to as Kyffhäusergebirge) is a hill range in Central Germany, shared by Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, southeast of the Harz mountains. It reaches its highest point at the Kulpenberg with an elevation of 473.4 m (1,553 ft). The range is the site of medieval Kyffhausen Castle (Reichsburg Kyffhausen) and the 19th century Kyffhäuser Monument; it has significance in German traditional mythology as the legendary resting place of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

[5] Ortsfamilienbuch/Family Book, Manfred Daum, available by GGD

[6] The place was founded around 1820. The settlers came from Bohemia and were Roman Catholics. The new independent municipality of Ludwikówka also included the smaller settlements of Josephstal (founded in 1832) and Leopoldsdorf (founded in 1870). In 1900 the municipality of Ludwikówka had 62 houses with 445 inhabitants, of which 391 were German-speaking. In 1946 the name was changed to Myslivka. The place became part of the Kalush district in Ukraine.

[7] Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser (de-academic.com)

[8] Heinz Sting Kunstmaler Otto Engelhardt-Kyffhäuser – NordhausenWiki (nordhausen-wiki.de)