In 1908, Rainer Maria Rilke wrote "Requiem for a Friend" in memory
of Paula Modersohn-Becker, the German painter who had profoundly
affected him, personally and artistically, and who had died a year
earlier. Although one of the great modern painters,
Modersohn-Becker is today remembered primarily as she is portrayed
in Rilke's poem. In Dear Friend, Eric Torgersen looks at the
relationship of these two great artists whose often-strained
friendship was extraordinarily productive for both and offers an
introduction to the life and work of Modersohn-Becker.
Torgersen begins by tracing the path that leads the two young
people to the artist's colony at Worpswede in 1900, where Rilke
meets with and becomes fascinated by Paula Becker. He recounts
Rilke's dismay upon learning Becker is already engaged to the
painter Otto Modersohn; Rilke's sudden marriage to
Modersohn-Becker's dearest friend, the sculptor Clara Westhoff; and
Modersohn-Becker's pain and anger at the effect this marriage has
on her friend and on their friendship. The book then follows Rilke
and Modersohn-Becker through their years of estrangement and
conflict over the competing claims of art and life.
Included in the book are reproductions and photos as well as
Torgersen's new translations of "Requiem for a Friend" and of the
love poems Rilke wrote for Becker shortly after they met. Torgersen
discusses Modersohn-Becker's major paintings, including her
unfinished portrait of Rilke. He quotes from the letters and
journals of both artists and translates many of Rilke's works into
English for the first time. Finally, Torgersen addresses the
question of whether the two were lovers and offers new insights
into the creation of"Requiem for a Friend".
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