Harriet von Rathlef-Keilmann

Latvian painter, graphic artist, sculptress, illustrator, writer. Descended from Rabbi Abram Awerbuck of Courland, who took the surname of Keyleman in memory of his late wife Keyla (early 18th century). Born in Riga (1887) in the family of Jewish dentists Isidor Isaak Noak Philipp Keilmann (1856–1942) and his cousin Eugenie Kantorowitz (1869–1941). Baptised as a Protestant at the Burgkirche in Königsberg in the German Empire (1896). Attended the Reinsche Höhere Töchterschule and evening classes at Elise von Jung-Stilling’s Zeichen- und Malschule in Riga (first half of 1900s). Studied at the Lewin-Funcke-Schule in Berlin (1906–07) and the Debschitz-Schule in Munich (1907–08). Returned to Riga, where she trained as a sculptress under August Volz (1908). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1908), including the exhibitions of the Baltic Art Society in Riga (1908–14), Haus der Frau in Leipzig (1913), Jahrtausendausstellung der Rheinlande in Cologne (1925) and Die Große Berliner Kunstausstellung, Preußische Akademie der Künste, Kunstausstellungen des Vereins der Berliner Künstlerinnen, Wanderausstellungen Junger Künstler and the Galerie Nierendorf in Berlin (1925–33). Married Karl Voldemar Harald von Rathlef (1878–1944), lieutenant of the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna 5th Hussars Regiment, at the Reformātu-Brāļu in Riga (1908). Lived and worked in Gut Nömmiko near Dorpat (now Tartu), where she gave birth to Monika (1909–1959), Marianne (1910–2008), Liselotte (1912–1998) and Karl-Ludwig Nikolai (1914–1946). Emigrated with her family to Germany (1918). Studied under Richard Engelmann and Walter Gropius at the Bauhaus in Weimar (1919–22). Divorced her husband (1922) and moved to Hagen in the Ruhr, where she joined Das Junge Rheinland (1922). Moved to Berlin (1923), where she lived at Kantstraße 77 in Charlottenburg and supported herself by writing and illustrating children’s books (from 1923). Held one-woman shows at the Buch- und Kunstheim Käte & Emma Twardy in Berlin (1924) and the Graphic Cabinet Maria Kunde at the Bieberhaus in Hamburg (1925).Converted to Roman Catholicism under the influence of Carl Sonnenschein (1925), who introduced her to Anna Anderson (1925). Supported the claim of Anna Anderson to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna (from 1925). Stayed with Anna Anderson at the Hotel Tivoli in Lugano in Switzerland (1926). Published Altrussische Bauernlegenden (1926) and Anastasia – Ein Frauenschicksal als Spiegel der Weltkatastrophe. Ermittlungen über die jüngste Tochter des Zaren Nikolaus II (1928). Forced to withdraw her works from Die Große Berliner Kunstausstellung at Schloss Bellevue and expelled from the Verein der Berliner Künstlerinnen (1933). Died of a burst appendix at the Westend-Krankenhaus in Berlin (1933).