Deutsches Theater, Douglas Lager, Insel Man (Douglas Internment Camp)
Date made: 1918
Description: An etching showing a theatrical production of a play viewed from the audience. The etching shows the audience, the orchestra and conduction playing and the actors on stage in mid-performance. The play shows a group of figures in traditional costume outside a thatched cottage (e.g. Bavaria, Tyrol etc.), the group includes one figure in female costume. The etching is entitled 'Douglas Lager, Insel Man, Deutsches Theater, *zene aus Gwissenswurm?' and signed 'F.Nettel 18'.
The etchings belonged to donor's uncle, Wilhelm Hess, of Rudersheim, am Rhein, Germany (c.1870s-c.1950s). Wilhelm Hess arrived in Britain in 1912-13, importer of haberdashery for hats (feathers and ribbons). Donor was niece of original owners's wife. He was training to be in the wine trade and went back to Germany after the First World War to his wife.
Background:
During the First World War (1914-1918) the Isle of Man was used as an internment base for civilian ‘enemy aliens’. They were held in two camps, a requisitioned holiday camp in Douglas and a purpose built camp located at Knockaloe near Peel on the west coast of the Island. These held at their peaks over 4,000 and 23,000 men in some cases for nearly five years between opening in 1914 and final closure in 1919.
Measurements: overall: 23 cm x 29 cm
Materials: paper
Object name: etching
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 2008-0023/2
Subject tags : #WW1INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS