# Else Lasker-Schüler

> Jewish German poet (1869–1945)

**Wikidata**: [Q58033](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58033)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Else_Lasker-Schüler)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/else-lasker-schuler

## Summary

Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945) was a Jewish German poet, writer, playwright, and salonnière recognized as one of the leading figures of German Expressionist poetry. Born Elisabeth Schüler, she is best known for her intensely expressive lyrical works and her role as a central cultural figure in Berlin's literary avant-garde. She received the Kleist Prize, one of Germany's most prestigious literary awards.

## Biography

- **Born:** February 11, 1869
- **Died:** January 22, 1945
- **Birth Name:** Elisabeth Schüler
- **Nationality:** German; later stateless
- **Known for:** Expressionist poetry, literary salons, playwriting
- **Occupations:** Poet, writer, playwright, salonnière
- **Field:** Poetry

## Contributions

Else Lasker-Schüler contributed significantly to German literature through her poetry, plays, and prose works, all characterized by a highly expressive, emotionally charged literary style. As a salonnière, she organized and hosted literary salons that served as gathering points for the Berlin artistic and intellectual community. Her work in poetry helped define and advance the Expressionist movement in German letters. She was recognized with the Kleist Prize, a major German literary award established in 1912, acknowledging her importance to the nation's literary landscape.

## FAQs

**What was Else Lasker-Schüler's original name?**
She was born Elisabeth Schüler. She later adopted the name Else Lasker-Schüler.

**What awards did Else Lasker-Schüler receive?**
She received the Kleist Prize, a distinguished German literary award.

**What was Else Lasker-Schüler's connection to Germany?**
She was a Jewish German poet and cultural figure who held German citizenship. Later in life, she experienced statelessness—the condition of not being recognized as a citizen or national of any country.

**What literary forms did Else Lasker-Schüler work in?**
She worked across multiple literary forms: poetry, playwriting, and general literary writing. Her primary field of work was poetry, a literary style characterized by strong expressiveness of words.

**What was a salonnière?**
A salonnière is a person who organizes or hosts a salon—a gathering of literary, artistic, or intellectual figures. Else Lasker-Schüler served in this role, hosting literary salons that connected creative minds.

## Why They Matter

Else Lasker-Schüler holds a significant place in German literary history as a pioneering voice in Expressionist poetry. Her work exemplified the expressive potential of the German language, pushing the boundaries of poetic form and emotional depth. As a salonnière in Berlin, she created spaces where writers, artists, and intellectuals could exchange ideas, fostering the creative environment that fueled early 20th-century German modernism. Her recognition with the Kleist Prize places her among the most important literary figures of her era. The fact that a society dedicated to her memory exists (the Else Lasker-Schüler Gesellschaft) demonstrates her enduring cultural relevance. Her experience of statelessness also connects her story to the broader historical tragedies of the 20th century.

## Notable For

- Being a leading Jewish German poet of the Expressionist era
- Winning the Kleist Prize, a prestigious German literary award
- Serving as a salonnière and cultural connector in Berlin's literary scene
- Working across multiple literary forms: poetry, plays, and prose
- Her birth name Elisabeth Schüler, later known by her married pen name
- Experiencing statelessness during her lifetime
- Being the subject of a dedicated commemorative society (Else Lasker-Schüler Gesellschaft)
- Her signature being preserved as a historical artifact (1929)
- Having photographs and portraits archived from 1875 onward

## Body

### Early Life and Identity

Else Lasker-Schüler was born Elisabeth Schüler on February 11, 1869. She was identified as a Jewish German poet throughout her life and career. Her personal identity evolved over time, marked by her transition from her birth name to the name by which she became known in literary circles.

### Citizenship and Statelessness

Lasker-Schüler's relationship with Germany was complex. She held German citizenship (associated with the nation in Central Europe) but ultimately experienced statelessness—the status of a person who is not recognized as a citizen or national of any country. This shift reflects the historical upheavals of the early 20th century, particularly the impact of the Nazi regime on Jewish citizens. Germany's own political transformations during her lifetime included the German Empire (from 1871), the Weimar Republic (from 1918), and Nazi Germany (from 1933), each representing a different political context in which she lived and worked.

### Literary Career and Occupations

Lasker-Schüler pursued multiple literary occupations simultaneously:

- **Poet:** She was fundamentally a person who writes poetry, working in a literary style characterized by strong expressiveness of words. Poetry employs rhythmic and metrical structures to enhance emotional impact and serves as a means to explore the human experience and emotions.
- **Writer:** Beyond poetry, she was a person who used written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works across genres.
- **Playwright:** She wrote plays, contributing to German dramatic literature.
- **Salonnière:** She organized and hosted salons, serving as a cultural facilitator who brought together literary and artistic figures.

Her primary field of work was poetry (documented as such in her professional classification), but her contributions extended across the full literary spectrum.

### Recognition and Awards

Lasker-Schüler received the Kleist Prize, a German literary award established in 1912. This prize recognized her significance within the German literary tradition and placed her among the notable literary figures of her time.

### Historical Context

Lasker-Schüler lived through one of the most turbulent periods in German and European history. Born in 1869, she witnessed the unification of Germany under the Empire, the devastation of World War I, the cultural flowering and political instability of the Weimar Republic, and the rise of Nazi Germany. She died on January 22, 1945, just months before the end of World War II in Europe. Her status as a Jewish German poet meant that the Nazi period posed an existential threat, ultimately leading to her statelessness.

### Legacy and Commemoration

Lasker-Schüler's legacy is maintained through the Else Lasker-Schüler Gesellschaft (Society), which operates a website dedicated to her memory and work. Her image is preserved through photographs, including portraits from 1875 and other images. Her signature from 1929 has also been archived as a historical document. Streets and locations bear her name, such as Elselaskerweg in Wuppertal.

She is documented extensively across major international library and biographical databases, including the German National Library (GND ID: 118569880), the Library of Congress (n80034059), the Bibliothèque nationale de France, VIAF, ISNI, and many others. Her Wikipedia presence spans 51 sitelinks across different language editions, indicating global recognition.

### Documentation and Archives

Lasker-Schüler's life and work are cataloged under numerous identifiers across international systems:

- **International identifiers:** VIAF (61565628), ISNI (0000000120962520), LCCN (n80034059)
- **German identifiers:** GND (118569880), KBR (CFIV056491), BIBSYS
- **French identifiers:** BNF (12054598c)
- **Spanish identifiers:** BNE (XX994860)
- **Open Library:** OL39206A
- **Freebase:** /m/0578x2

Her archives and documentation extend across continents and systems, from Europe to North America, reflecting the international scope of her literary importance.

## References

1. Verbrannt, verboten, vergessen
2. Archivio Storico Ricordi
3. Integrated Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. [Historical Dictionary of Switzerland](https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/012068/2006-12-27/)
6. The Sturm is Herwarth Walden
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12. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki//Q509498)
13. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-16356)
14. [Source](https://kalliope-verbund.info/DE-611-BF-11168)
15. Else Lasker-Schüler. RKDartists
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24. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
25. De Jérusalem à Berlin
26. [Source](https://www.oeaw.ac.at/acdh/oebl/biographien-des-monats/oktober)
27. [Source](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-476-03702-2_204)
28. CONOR.SI
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30. LIBRIS. 2012
31. [Der Malik. Eine Kaisergeschichte mit selbstgezeichneten Bildern.](https://www.stedelijk.nl/nl/collectie/85616-else-lasker-schuler-der-malik.-eine-kaisergeschichte-mit-selbstgezeichneten-bildern.)
32. Regional Database of the Central Bohemian Research Library in Kladno
33. performing-arts.ch
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35. Catalogo of the National Library of India