The artist Lotte, who emigrated to Sweden, and her painting “Evening over Potsdam”

Lotte Laserstein painted "Evening over Potsdam" in 1930, in response to the Nazi Party winning 18% of the vote at the elections.

When these people came to power, Lotte, the first woman admitted to the Berlin Academy of Arts and a graduate with distinction, was persecuted as a Jew by three quarters of her descent, and this painting was declared "degenerate Jewish art".

Fortunately, Lotte managed to escape the worst: she left for Sweden, never returned to Germany and lived a very long and happy life, 1898-1993.

"Evening over Potsdam" was Lotte's favourite painting, one she never parted with, taking it with her from place to place and hanging it above her desk. At its centre is her favourite model and friend Traute Rose, who followed Lotte into emigration. Around her are Lotte's friends. They all understand what saddens them this evening. When in 2010 the Berlin National Gallery bought "Evening over Potsdam", it was the first step towards restoring the forgotten name of an outstanding German-Swedish artist, struck from the people's memory by the regime

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The artist Lotte, who emigrated to Sweden, and her painting “Evening over Potsdam”

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