Böckstiegel and Feldmann at the Historical Museum Bielefeld

A Friendship between Painting, Jewelry Art, and Bielefeld Cultural History

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Peter Salchow will illuminate the extraordinary artist friendship between the expressionist painter Peter August Böckstiegel and the Bielefeld goldsmith and silversmith Rudolf Feldmann at the Historical Museum Bielefeld. The image lecture begins at 3 PM and leads into a close network of art, craftsmanship, collector activities, and personal connection.

When Painting and Goldsmithing Meet

Peter August Böckstiegel is considered one of the significant German painters of the 1920s and 1930s. Rudolf Feldmann, born in 1878 in Essen and later active in Bielefeld, shaped an expressive, highly plastic jewelry style as a goldsmith and silversmith. The two artists shared a close friendship for more than three decades.

Letters as Testimonies of an Intensive Artist Relationship

At the center of the lecture are the personal and artistic connections between Böckstiegel and Feldmann. About 150 letters document their correspondence and provide insights into Böckstiegel's living and working conditions. The correspondence tells of art, family, commissions, collector activities, and mutual support.

A Dialogue of Color, Form, and Material

Böckstiegel ordered jewelry from Feldmann for his wife, silver tableware, and gifts for relatives and friends. In return, the painter offered his own works. Thus, an exciting dialogue emerged between expressive painting and three-dimensional jewelry art. Feldmann's works combined craftsmanship precision with an expressive language of form.

Rudolf Feldmann as Collector and Promoter

Feldmann was not only a goldsmith and silversmith but also a significant collector of modern art and an important figure in Bielefeld's cultural life. He acquired works from Böckstiegel and other artists, including Conrad Felixmüller. Through his support, he became an important companion and promoter of Böckstiegel.

Historical Perspectives on Bielefeld

The image lecture connects to a previous exhibition of the Historical Museum that documented this artist friendship in detail. The earlier presentation was made possible by the donation of Rudolf Feldmann's estate to the museum. Peter Salchow supplements the art-historical context with personal memories of the Feldmann family and their life on Stapenhorst Street in Bielefeld.

Conclusion: Visitors can expect an informed insight into an extraordinary connection of Expressionism, goldsmithing, and regional cultural history. The work examination makes visible how closely aesthetic experience, personal friendship, and artistic promotion were interconnected. Those who wish to not only observe art history but experience it as a living web of people, materials, and ideas will find a special artistic experience here.

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• Website: https://www.historisches-museum-bielefeld.de/

Sources:

• Lecture at the Historical Museum: Artist Friendship Böckstiegel and Feldmann – City of Bielefeld
• Events – Historical Museum Bielefeld
• Historical Museum Bielefeld – Visitor Information
• Peter August Böckstiegel and Rudolf Feldmann – Kerber Verlag
• Rudolf Feldmann – Kunsthandel Henneken