Fritz Overbeck | Hermine in blauer Malschürze | um 1906 | Öl auf Karton

Painter couples are connected in a twofold way – through love and art. Family life and artistry are interwoven, and married couples are also colleagues. Fritz and Hermine Overbeck also lived in this union of love and art. As a young art student, Hermine Rohte first fell in love with a painting by Fritz Overbeck – and only then did she fall in love with the painter. Although she was overshadowed by her husband during her lifetime, the first years of their marriage were among her most productive as an artist.

Severe illness, the early loss of a child, and the sudden death of Fritz Overbeck at the age of only 39 – the life of the painter couple is rich in tragic twists. At the same time, though, it is also a life full of colors and pictures. An extensive correspondence bears witness to the intimate relationship between the two artists and provides insights into their everyday life and work, and at the same time conveys a true-to-life panorama of the period around 1900.