Goethe’s House in Weimar is one of the two major attractions in this historic city (the other being Schiller’s House). Goethe’s holistic approach to philosophy, art, nature, and writing may have influenced the Bauhaus movement a hundred years later. (See yesterday’s post on the Bauhaus).
Goethe’s famous novel, “The Sorrows of Werther”, is a story about his affection for Charlotte Ernster (nee Buff). It sparked a viral interest in love stories in his day and may have caused a string of suicides mimicking the author’s drastic solution to a spurned love affair. Goethe was known to have had affairs with Charlotte von Stein among others. He eventually married a commoner Christiane after having a child out of wedlock with her.
Love is a featured topic of the Goethe Museum. Idealized, romantic love and even forbidden and erotic love were themes in Goethe’s writings. Goethe captured and explored human emotions that previously were suppressed or seldom expressed. Read some of the written explanations below.
Goethe was quite the Renaissance man. In addition to writing plays, poems, and about philosophy, Goethe was also an artist. He had a curiosity about the natural world, and became an anatomist, geologist, and horticulturalist.
Goethe’s home gives a glimpse into his personal life and work environment. Goethe paid particular attention to storage of artifacts and documents. The custom-designed cases kept collections organized and accessible. Books, coins, geological samples, and artwork were stored so they could be quickly presented and shared with visitors.
I could imagine being very satisfied and happy working there. Following Goethe’s perfect schedule, I would power through emails and blog posts in the morning, tinker a bit in the garden, have the main meal around 2pm, and cap each day with a nap in the afternoon! Below are some of the enticing rooms and garden perspectives.
In the Park along the Ilm River, the Garden House served as Goethe’s getaway where the writer could escape his social and administrative responsibilities and focus on writing. Not too shabby either.
The “high horse” chair was custom designed so he could sit and write for long hours. The tall yoke rested his ample belly, and could easily support other elephants in the room. As a craftsman cum designer, he would have been an ace at the Bauhaus.
Travels with Myself and Others 