Glass-paintings in the Ruhr metropolis

Glass window at St. Barbara's catholic church in Essen-Kray / Photo: Stiftung Forschungsstelle Glasmalerei des 20. Jh. e.V. / Design: Fa. Dr. Heinrich Oidtmann, 1905-1907

The more than 12,000 luminescent and often monumental works of art are unique treasures spread across over 1,000 sacred and profane buildings across the region, including town halls, schools, train stations and administrative offices.

They tell of the history and culture of the people of the Ruhr - of mining, industrialization, immigration, population growth, ravages of war, reconstruction and modernization. They also show a life deeply steeped in Christian traditions: among the most outstanding works of art documented are glass paintings in Catholic and Lutheran churches. Glass paintings in city halls represent the wealth and civic pride of a dedicated citizenry.

Part of the architecture of buildings, glass paintings shape identities and create a sense of home. They’re also a fundamentally democratic art form as their exact execution was often discussed in detail beforehand by citizens, organizations and church members.

Glass paintings were created through teamwork between those commissioning them, designers, architects and artists. With local, national and international artists creating them, the glass paintings of the Ruhr metropolis represent many forms of artistic expression, particularly of the second half of the 20th century.  What makes the recent glass paintings of the Ruhr Metropolis unique in quantity and modernity is that most of them were created as part of the reconstruction of the region following the devastation of the Second World War.

All glass paintings were entered into a database by the Research Foundation for Glass Paintings of the 20th Century and can be seen at
www.glasmalerei-ev.de
(in German and Dutch)

The project has been supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.