The Artistic Path of Eugen Schönebeck
Born in Heidenau, Germany, Eugen Schönebeck began his artistic training in 1954 at the Meisterschule für Angewandte Kunst in Ost-Berlin, studying in the class for large-scale painting. In 1955, he moved to West-Berlin to study at the Hochschule für Bildende Kunst, where he studied under Hans Jaenisch and Hans Kuhn. During his time there, he collaborated with Georg Kern, later known as Georg Baselitz, presenting the 1. Pandämonisches Manifest in 1961. This was followed by the 2. Pandämonisches Manifest in 1962. Schönebeck’s work involved an engagement with the causes and consequences of national socialist Germany, as well as Christian values and socialist ideas. His pursuit of an expressive painting style was characterized by a struggle with the motif, often utilizing figurative, publicly effective painting as a revolutionary gesture.
Works and Exhibitions
Schönebeck’s active career as a visual artist was relatively brief, as he unexpectedly withdrew from public life in 1967. During his years of activity, he created approximately 80 oil paintings and nearly 800 drawings. His notable works include:
His art has been featured in numerous international exhibitions, including documenta 6 in Kassel, the Biennale di Venezia, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. His works are held in various collections, such as the Städel Museum, Frankfurt, the Frieder Burda collection, and the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen. In 1992, he was honored with the Fred-Thieler-Preis for painting in Berlin.
