A Life Along the Elbe Julius von Ehren was born into a family with deep roots in the waters of the Elbe, where his ancestors had fished since the 17th century. His father worked as a sailmaker, a trade that likely provided a steady, if humble, backdrop to his early years in Altona. While his upbringing was grounded in the practicalities of maritime life, his path led him toward the canvas. Through the help of a local charitable fund, h…