Skizzenbuch, Pen & Gouache, 2011Over 48 million people left Europe and immigrated to the USA. It is hard to imagine how great their desperation and hopelessness must have been and how brave they were at the same time. I wonder what they must have thought, when for the first time they had set their eyes on the busy Hamburg harbour (in north Germany) with its sailing and steam ships.
Till 1850 most people would emigrate via England, France, the Netherlands or the port Bremen (North Germany). In 185o Hamburg recognized that emigrants were a major economic factor and seaports like Hamburg became emigrant transship centers. In 1893 after a cholera epedimie the decision was made to build special housing areas for the emigrants and set up a system to prevent epedemics.
The Museum Ballinstadt in Hamburg has rebuild parts of this aera and in their exhibition they explain why and under what circumstances people left their native country.
Casey Klahn
Thanks for posting this sketch, and the details of your visit. You have a heartfelt feeling for the history, here.
Casey
Astrid Volquardsen
Hi Casey,
thank you. You know, when you look at the people faces on the photographs there is so much to see.
susannehaun
Ich denke auch heute ist die Verzweiflung in der Bevölkerung wieder sehr groß und Menschen suchen ihr Glück in der Ferne.
Umgekehrt ist Deutschland ein Einwanderungsland geworden und die Hoffnung vieler.
Deine Zeichnung und die Worte dazu gefallen mir sehr gut, Astrid.
Einen schönen Tag wünscht dir Susanne
Astrid Volquardsen
Hallo Susanne,
ja du hast Recht. So weit in die Vergangenheit braucht man gar nicht zu schweifen.