Else Meidner

(née Meyer)

(b. 1901 Berlin, Germany – immigrated to Great Britain 1939 – d. 1987 London, England)

Woman with a Hat Oil on canvas 82 x 67 cm Ben Uri Collection Acquired with the assistance of Ethel Solomon 1950

Woman with a Hat captures the austerity of postwar Britain, while the artist’s brushwork and palette also recall her German Expressionist roots. Else Meidner studied at the Berlin Academy under Ludwig Meidner, whom she married in 1927. After immigrating to England, she worked as a domestic during his internment. Afterwards, they endured great poverty and grew apart personally and stylistically, despite a joint exhibition at Ben Uri in 1949. Else remained in England, again exhibiting with Ben Uri (1974 and 1972), but after her husband returned to Germany, she worked in increasing isolation.