In spite of the hardships of the 1920's Gerta Overbeck possessed enough courage and self-confidence to decide on an artistic career. The artistic movement of “Neue Sachlichkeit” (New Objectivity) was in the air, and in Hanover a group of young art students formed which represented the world in which they lived with unsparing criticism and austerity. Two young women were very active participants in the group: Gerta Overbeck and Grethe Jürgens. The two were close friends for many years, and their paintings are closely related in style and theme.

They found their subjects in the proletarian milieu of the city. The daily life of most people was shaped by unemployment, political radicalism, and inflation, and the artists also lived in imp...