Dictionary
Osternberg Artist Colony

A temporary artists' colony was in existence in the Upper Bavarian town of Osternberg near Braunau on the Inn between 1878 and 1924. The artists involved had never really settled in Osternberg, however, they spent the summer months together in the large manor of Hugo von Preen (born in 1854), who had studied at the Munich academy under Wilhelm von Lindenschmit. As of 1877 he took his fellow students to Osternberg. In 1881 he changed his place of residence to his parent's manor in Osternberg, where he painted, executed drawings and made folkloristic and archeological studies. In the summer months he accommodated his large circle of friends there - thus the "Osternberg artists colony" was born.
It was mostly students of Wilhelm von Lindenschmit that congregated in Osternberg, among them Heinrich Schlitt, who preferably painted gnomes and dwarfs, Moritz Röbbecke, Richard Ebner, the orientalist Ferdinand Max Bredt, Theodor Schmidt, Albert Muschweck and not least Carl Johann Becker-Gundahl (1856-1925). The association "Immergrün", a group of young en plein air painters from Munich, with members from the classes of Lindenschmit, Diez and Löfftz, was in close contact with Osternberg and alterantingly met there and in the Schwabing inn "Grüner Baum".
The Ostenberg circle would soon grow, joined by Wilhelm Dürr, Ludwig Herterich, Hubert von Heyden, Julius Exter, Alphons Spring, Max Kuschel, Eugen Horstig, Paul H. Wagner and Hans Pöck in the 1880s. The colony had its heyday between 1887 and 1894; by 1892 there was not enough room for all the people, so that an "auxiliary" colony had to be set up.
Franz von Stuck, who was still known by his name Franz Stuck in those days, was a frequent visitor Osternberg. He was known for his laconic sense of humor, his ability to hold his liquor as well as for his extensive sleeping habits, which earned him the nickname "Schlafwagen" (sleeping car). He developed the outline for his painting "Forellenweiher" (Trout Pond) in Osternberg and thus performed the step from realistic to symbolic landscape painting. On the contrary, the majority of Osternberg artists stuck to plein air landscapes.
The colony's importance began to cease as of 1895, however, its aftereffects were remarkable, as the Osternberg artists made major contributions to the founding of the Munich Secession, on top, five Osternberg members - among them Franz Stuck - were called to teach at the Munich academy.
The tradition of summer meetings in Osternberg lasted on up into the 1920s, but in a much smaller context.