Teacher in Treptow @museum.de

F: Fritz Reuter had finally arrived.

M: In April 1850, he moved to the small town of Treptow on the River Tollense (today's Altentreptow), only a few kilometres east of Stavenhagen. Reuter had rejected the conditions attached to his inheritance and now wanted to stand on his own two feet. He took the first steps towards settling in to a modest, middle-class life. A little over a year later, he married Luise Kuntze and the couple moved into a small apartment.

F: Luise gave piano lessons and taught French. Fritz made money as a tutor while also creating portraits of his pupils and other Treptow residents. Some of the paintings and drawings from this period are on display in our recreation of their living room.

M: “Since then, I have lived for science and the art of painting and drawing. Last summer I attempted to make myself useful to young people locally by giving gymnastics and swimming lessons, I have paid my way, [...], and even had occasion to earn some money by painting portraits".

F: Fritz Reuter felt content in Treptow and took an active part in small-town middle-class life. He even made some headway with his political convictions. In keeping with the spirit of the fraternities, he promoted gymnastics. He designed exercise equipment to improve young people's fitness and asked the town authorities for permission to set up a sports ground.

M: No sooner said than done. A gymnastics area was laid out near Treptower Klosterberg, much to the delight of local children and young people. And Fritz Reuter enjoyed the newfound social recognition.

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Zitat: Fritz Reuter als Zeichner und Porträtmaler, S. 81.