PRESSURISED, 2022/23

Carl Klieneberger was born on 25 April 1876 in Frankfurt am Main, to Jewish parents who saw themselves as non-religious and assimilated into German society. He was a doctor, was married and had three daughters. He studied medicine at the universities of Berlin, Kiel and Strasbourg, passing the medical state examinations on 14 February 1899. From 1900 to 1901 he served as an army doctor. By 1912, he was an associate professor in Königsberg, and in the same year became director of the city hospital in Zittau, Germany, where he was a specialist in internal medicine. In 1933, he was forced to resign from this position on the basis of Section 6 of the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service (Gesetz zur Wiederherstellung des Berufsbeamtentums) which excluded Jews and other political opponents of the Nazis from all civil service positions.

Professor Klieneberger worked in private practice in the following years, during which he suffered further discrimination and antisemitic abuse from former colleagues and patients. On 1 October 1938 his licence to practice medicine was to be revoked. He committed suicide on 30 September 1938.

He wrote to his mother on 30 September 1938:

My dear mum, I know that I am causing you the greatest grief. But your son can no longer lead a life without relatively satisfying work and with constant external dishonour. With true love and filial devotion, yours, Carl.

COMMENTS

  • What a tragic end of the life of a talented doctor. Another thought provoking piece

  • Horrific stories - each one different

  • Such a waste. Great grandfather to my stepchildren was a lawyer and Professor of Law at Heidelberg University. Lost everything. Died in Auschwitz. Such loss, such horror. Man’s inhumanity to man. Your work brings it all home

  • Shocking story, the poor man - also a clear illustration of how hatred harms the hater too - Germany lost so much talent and knowledge because of facism

  • Your work exquisitely speaks truth to evil. You bring value and legitimacy to our genetic sorrow. Thank you

Measurement: 32cm x 20cm x 5cm

Process: Hand stitch

Materials: German aneroid sphygmomanometer early 20th century, vintage medicine bottle, textile, silk threads

To be exhibited in:

30 Years of Embroiderers’ Guild Graduate & Scholar Showcase, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London (5 - 8 October 2023)

30 Years of Embroiderers’ Guild Graduate & Scholar Showcase, The Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate (16 - 19 November 2023)