Martha Burkhardt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Burkhardt
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Self-portrait around 1910
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| Born | 30 April 1874 |
| Died | 12 January 1956 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Education | Academy of Fine Arts, Munich |
| Known for | Drawing, painting |
| Movement | Impressionism |
Martha Burkhardt (born April 30, 1874 – died January 12, 1956) was a talented Swiss artist. She was known for her paintings and photographs. Martha was born in Aarau, Switzerland. She spent most of her life in Rapperswil.
Early Life and Learning
Martha Burkhardt's family moved to Rapperswil in 1880. Her grandparents ran a business there. Martha spent her childhood in Rapperswil. A year later, Martha and her younger brother Max lost their father and grandfather. They grew up with their mother and grandmother.
Both Martha and Max were very artistic. Max became a decorative painter and later a photographer. Martha was a strong-willed young woman. She often ignored the rules for women at that time. For example, she was the first woman in Rapperswil to ride a bicycle. This surprised many people.
Like her brother, Martha loved painting. Around age 15, she worked in Lausanne, Switzerland. This was part of a tradition called Welschlandjahr. Young women would go to French-speaking Switzerland to learn French. A teacher there noticed Martha's art skills. However, the main art academy only accepted boys.
Martha first painted in Paris, France, starting in 1898. From 1901 to 1906, she studied in Munich, Germany. She learned from professors Jankk and Feldbusch. At the art school in Munich, she met her friend Meta Kirchner.
Travels and Art Work
After her studies, Martha Burkhardt returned to Switzerland. She set up her own art studio in Rapperswil. She wanted to work as an independent painter. She also wanted to show her art in exhibitions. Martha was very successful.
The money she earned from her paintings allowed her to travel. Every year, for a few weeks, she would go on trips. She visited places like Italy, Scandinavia, and Morocco. She also took longer trips to France, Spain, Russia, and even Constantinople. Martha also studied landscapes in the Netherlands and Sweden.
In 1911, her friend Meta Kirchner invited her to India. Martha attended the coronation of King George V at the Delhi Durbar. From 1911 to 1914, Martha traveled widely through Asia. This was unusual because few women traveled alone back then. She was deeply moved by the spiritual side of Asia. She used her experiences from India, China, and Japan in her paintings. She also wrote newspaper articles and books, which she illustrated herself.
Back in Rapperswil, Martha was active in her community. During World War I, she helped with the city's food supply. She also started an emergency hospital during the 1918 flu pandemic. For many years, she led the family welfare group in the public women's association. Martha Burkhardt created free child care for the women's association. She also started the first exchange for adopted children in Rapperswil. In 1927, she moved into her own house. It was built on Meienberg hill, between Rapperswil and Jona.
