Station: [18] The painter Ernst Christian Walcha

Christina:

I’ve made some chicken soup, Ernst Christian. It’ll do you good.

Walcha:

I’m not hungry.

Christina:

That’s what you always say, and then you eat something anyway.

Walcha:

Because otherwise you don’t leave me in peace.

Christina:

You’d starve if I weren’t there to look after you.

Walcha:

People don’t starve that easily. And chicken soup, in the middle of the week? Some instant broth would have done the trick.

Christina:

Come and eat now. Otherwise it’ll get cold!

Walcha:

In a minute. I’m nearly done.

Christina:

You’re never done. You barely finish one picture before you start on the next. If you’d only charge a decent price for your pictures. You could be living in the lap of luxury.

Walcha:

People have no money for pictures.

Christina:

Don’t say that. Some have got quite enough. But you’d rather give them all away.

Walcha:

That’s not true at all.

Christina:

Well, if fifteen marks for one of your pictures isn’t giving it away, I don’t know what is. And if you insist on asking people what they want to give rather than setting a price, none of this is a surprise anyway. And yet they call you the “master of the water colour” – you’re a properly trained painter! People do value your work, believe me, and I’m sure they’d give more, if only you were willing.

Walcha:

What for, Christina? I don’t need more than I have. As long as there’s sufficient for paint and canvas, it’s enough.

And for your little bottle of beer every day. I believe that is the only one of life’s luxuries you allow yourself.

Walcha:

You’re my luxury, Christina, and I spoil myself with you!

Christina:

Don’t make me laugh. Then why don’t you marry me?

Walcha:

What would that change? We’re together as a couple anyway.

Christina:

But not in the eyes of other people! They think I’m just your housekeeper. [lacht]

It seems they don’t think you’re capable of getting up to no good. If only they knew…

Walcha:

And that bothers you? Why would we care about other people? How many do you think are married and hate each other’s guts? Constantly fighting and making each other’s lives a misery. We, on the other hand – have we ever even had an argument?

Christina:

It’s impossible to have an argument with you. You always give in straight away.

Walcha:

And you don’t like that?

Christina:

You might occasionally think of yourself a bit more, Ernst Christian. Not always just about your art, and painting…

Walcha:

But it’s something that’s worth doing – capturing everything that surrounds us with brushes and colours: spring, when everything turns green and blossoms, or winter with ice and snow, when you can literally see the cold …

Christina:

… certainly that applies to the melting ice crystals on the canvases you paint out of doors.

Oh, Ernst Christian, how many people wander through the natural world and don’t even notice how beautiful it is!

Walcha:

Which makes it all the more vital to capture it in pictures.

Christina:

You’re a dreamer, and always will be. But that’s why I’m so fond of you, and I think that goes for other people, too.

And now, off you go. I can tell you’re dying to get back outside to your beloved River Elbe with its boats puttering along. And don’t forget to take your flask of coffee!

He’s never going to change. Never mind, maybe it’s better that way.