Lotte Laserstein: A Divided Life

Recent years have seen a renewed interest in the painter Lotte Laserstein (1898-1993), whose striking landscapes, portraits, self-portraits, and sensual nudes demonstrate her synthesis of traditional painting style and modern subject matter. Born in Germany and exiled to Sweden during the Nazi regime, Laserstein created a diverse and extensive body of work over five decades.

Incorporating essays on Laserstein's work in Berlin before her exile and her reception in Sweden, images of her art, and unpublished archival material, this book furthers our understanding of the artist's life and creative output. Iris Müller-Westerman and Anna-Carola Krausse include art from the whole of Laserstein's career, including previously unpublished work. Other contributions build on debates about gender and queerness in the artist's work and analyze her assimilation strategies in Sweden. The catalog accompanies a 2023 retrospective at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.

Shedding new light on Laserstein's life and art, this book cements her reputation as one of the twentieth century's great realists.