Ludwig Fahrenkrog (20 October 1867 – 27 October 1952) was a German writer, playwright and artist.
He was born in Rendsburg, Prussia, in 1867. He started his career as an artist in his youth, and attended the Berliner Königlichen Kunst Akademie (Berlin Royal Art Academy) before being appointed a professor in 1913.
He taught at the Schule für Kunst und Handwerk (School of Arts and Crafts) in Bremen from 1898 to 1931.
He was also involved in the founding of a series of völkisch religious groups in the early 20th century, as part of a movement to create what its adherents referred to as a Germanische Glaubensgemeinschaft (Germanic religious community).
Fahrenkrog was trained in the classical tradition, and had a successful artistic career.
He became a professor of art in 1913.
In 1928 he received first prize at the Großen Palast (Grand Palace) exhibition in München (Munich).
His style, however, is more dependent on Art Nouveau and Symbolist influences than on the classical tradition.
In an article on Fahrenkrog’s work, Marcus Wolff points to “his insistence on the religious nature and mission of art.”
The “religious mission” in question is the revival of the pre-Christian Germanic faith and the rejection of Christianity, which is hinted at in paintings such as ‘Lucifer’s Lossage von Gott’ (Lucifer’s Renunciation of God, 1898).
While Fahrenkrog’s work can be seen in the context of contemporary art movements, it was also strongly influenced by his participation in the religious movement taking place at the same time.
