Walter Rheiner: Difference between revisions

{{Expand German|topic=bio|Walter Rheiner|date=September 2019}}

'''Walter Rheiner''' (18 March 1895 – 12 June 1925; born '''Walter Heinrich Schnorrenberg''' in Cologne, Germany) was a writer and poet associated with the German post-expressionists.{{sfn|Millington|2012|p=137}}

In 1895, Walter Rheiner was born in Cologne, Germany, to his mother, Ernestine Schnorrenberg, and his father.<ref name="millington148">{{cite book |title= ibid. |page=148}}</ref>

Rheiner married{{when|date=October 2023}} Amalie Friederike Schnorrenberg, whomheaffectionately called 'Fo'{{why|date=October 2023}}. They divorced in 1925.

During [[World War I]] (ca 1914 - 1918), Rheiner fought on the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Millington|2012|p=156}}

Rheiner published{{when|date=October 2023}} poems and prose works throughout his life.{{clarifyme|date=October 2023}} His work drew comparisons to contemporaries such as [[Georg Trakl]] and [[Franz Kafka]]. Rheiner's greatest period of literary output was from 1916 to 1920.<ref name="millington148" />

{{stack|[[File:Der Dichter Walter Rheiner (The Poet Walter Rheiner), from the portfolio Felixmüller—Woodcuts (Felixmüller—Holzschnitte. - Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery - 2009.002d.jpg|thumb|''Der Dichter Walter Rheiner'' (The Poet Walter Rheiner) by [[Conrad Felixmüller]] (1918).|alt=A line drawing of a man in expressionist style]]}}

One of Rheiner's most fertile artistic relationships was with the German expressionist painter [[Conrad Felixmüller]]. Through connections due to this relationship, Rheiner's work was ableto be published. Felixmüller illustrated Rheiner's novella.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

In his last five years, from 1920 to his death in 1925, Rheiner's poetic output decreased. This has been attributed to factors such as [[poverty]] and [[drug addiction]].<ref name="millington148"/>

=== Drug use and death ===

{{stack|[[File:Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Friedhof Berlin Grab Walter-Rheiner.JPG|thumb|Walter Rheiner's gravestone in Berlin.|alt=A gravestone reading Walter Rheiner]]}}

Rheiner is often-remembered for his tragic association with [[substance abuse]]. This is exemplified in his major prose work ''Kokain'' (cocaine). ''Kokain'' was written in the summer of 1918{{sfn|Millington|2012|p=169}} and serves as a typical example of how autobiographical themes run through Rheiner's work. He had become addicted to [[cocaine]] in 1915 during the war.{{sfn|Millington|2012|p=160}}

In 1925, Rheiner died. His death was attributed to heavy use of [[morphine]].{{fact|date=October 2023}}

Following Rheiner's death, Felixmüller honoured his friend with a well-known portrait, 'Der Tod des Dichters Walter Rheiner'.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

{{Reflist|1}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=C9KmpwAACAAJ}} |title=Snow from Broken Eyes: Cocaine in the Lives and Works of Three Expressionist Poets |last=Millington |first=Richard H. |date=2012 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=9783034310697 |language=en}}

==External links==

*{{cite web |url=https://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_140736/Conrad-Felixmuller/Death-of-the-Poet-Walter-Rheiner-(Der-Tod-des-Dichters-Walter-Rheiner) |title=Death of the Poet Walter Rheiner (Der Tod des Dichters Walter Rheiner) by Conrad Felixmüller }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rheiner, Walter}}

[[Category:Writers from Cologne]]

[[Category:1925 deaths]]

[[Category:German poets]]