Springerle for Christmas Cookies 1935 - 1942

Editor: Here we have Fritz Boehmer’s *Springerle for Christmas Cookies*, made sometime between 1935 and 1942. It appears to be a drawing of a carved woodblock, maybe prepared for cookie-making? It’s so detailed and quaint; it gives me a cozy feeling, like a comforting tradition. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: Oh, that’s lovely! For me, it evokes a time of handcrafted joy, but also the quiet resilience found in simple domestic tasks during tumultuous years. Look closely – Boehmer, ever the observer, is showing us more than just a cookie mold. Notice the lion, the castle...symbols of heritage perhaps juxtaposed with everyday life? What story do you think those specific images are telling? Editor: I hadn’t considered the symbols individually before. The lion might be a regional symbol? And maybe the castle represents a sense of home, especially poignant during that period? It makes the piece feel less simply domestic and more like a quiet act of preserving identity. Curator: Exactly! These weren't just cookies; they were edible embodiments of memory. And consider how personal the act of carving that woodblock must have been! It's a recipe, a memory, a tiny act of rebellion against the anonymity of mass production all rolled into one sweet treat. Did you pick up on how geometric the woodcuts look when first seeing the image? Editor: I can totally see the geometry in it now, especially within the circle wreaths and heart. And to think, it would all disappear after you pressed it into the dough. It feels almost…ephemeral? Curator: A fleeting beauty indeed, like the snows of Christmas morning! Seeing this makes you think about traditions as things of geometric and passing beauty in new ways. Editor: Definitely! It is such a touching image! Now, every time I see springerle cookies, I'll remember this piece and the quiet stories they carry. Thanks!