The "Schmelz" and The New Frankfurt
05.09.2025 - 19.10.2025
Ella Bergmann-Michel, Ilse Bing, Walter Dexel and Robert Michel
edition & galerie hoffmann | joint exhibition with galerie eric mouchet
on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the bund das neue frankfurt, edition & galerie hoffmann is taking part for the first time in the frankfurt art experience at the saisonstart frankfurt galleries' saisonstart . in a temporary exhibition at goetheplatz 1, the gallery is showing a selection of works by ella bergmann-michel, ilse bing, walter dexel and robert michel in collaboration with the parisian gallery eric mouchet. four artists who participated in various roles in the reform and urban planning movement das neue frankfurt.
ella bergmann-michel founded the working group for independent film in the bund das neue frankfurt, ilse bing documented building projects photographically, walter dexel and robert michel were commissioned by ernst may to develop concepts for advertising and commercial graphics.
the artists knew each other not least through meetings at the schmelzmühle in eppstein-vockenhausen in the taunus, the place where bergmann-michel and michel lived and worked, and a meeting place for international pre-war avant-gardes. the so-called "schmelz" or "heimatmuseum of modern art" was also the place where the "ring neuer werbegestalter" was founded in 1927. in addition to bergmann-michel, michel and dexel, other members included willi baumeister, max burchartz, césar domela, kurt schwitters, jan tschichold and friedrich vordemberge-gildewart.
in addition to works on paper by ella-bergmann and michel, the exhibition shows advertising graphic designs by michel, as well as the short films "wo wohnen alte leute?" (1931) and "wahlkampf 1932/letzte wahl" (1932) by bergmann-michel. two portfolios realized by edition hoffmann in collaboration with dexel and michel in the early 1970s and 1980s are also on display. furthermore, photographs by ilse bing documenting the budge-heim old people's home and the hellershofsiedlung.
with the increasing influence of ultra-conservative right-wing and national socialist forces in the early 1930s, the new frankfurt came under pressure and was eventually suppressed. may, like many others involved, emigrated. dexel, on the other hand, rededicated his research into utilitarian objects, begun in 1925 in a constructivist departure from the artist:inner subject, as "german craftsmanship", which secured his professional career in the ns state. bergmann-michel and michel's artistic work was banned from exhibition in 1933 and categorized as "degenerate". they then retreated to the schmelzmühle, where michel ran a fish farm. bing left frankfurt for paris in 1930 and, as a jew, had to flee to new york via marseille in 1940.
especially against the backdrop of the progressive normalization of traditionalist, authoritarian-libertarian and ethno-nationalist politics 100 years after the founding of das neue frankfurt, the modernist and social reformist positions of the artists on display can serve as a reminder that their work was intended to contribute to shaping democracy in the weimar republic beyond artistic autonomy efforts.
together with the gallery eric mouchet, which represents the bergmann-michel estate, we are delighted to be able to show works by ella bergmann-michel, ilse bing, walter dexel and robert michel at the saisonstart . the founders of edition & galerie hoffmann, adelheid hoffmann and hans-jürgen slusallek, were friends with bergmann-michel and michel for many years.
works by césar domela and julius stahl will also be part of the exhibition.
Pop-up exhibition spaceat the Saisonstart
Joint exhibition edition & galerie hoffmann and Galerie Eric Mouchet
Goetheplatz 1
60313 Frankfurt am Main
Permanent exhibition space
edition & galerie hoffmann
Görbelheimer Mühle 1
61169 Friedberg
T. +49 603 124 43