Goethe's rare portrait ends up in the Offenbach city archives!

Goethe's rare portrait ends up in the Offenbach city archives!

In Offenbach, the city archives recently acquired a very special work of art: a rare copperplate portrait of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. This exciting news was announced on August 12, 2025 and is already generating great interest among art and literature lovers. From August 23rd, the portrait will be shown as part of the exhibition "The Beginning, the End and Everything in Between. Love Stories", which is organized together with the Klingspor Museum. The show celebrates the 250th anniversary of Goethe's engagement to Lili Schönemann and offers an exciting insight into this historical relationship, which Goethe described with the words: "An indomitable desire had arisen; I could not be without her, she could not be without me."

The rare portrait shows Goethe in profile to the left and was made in Offenbach in 1786. This time of creation highlights the importance of the work, as it is viewed not only as a work of art, but also as part of Offenbach's history. The engraver Isaak Schnapper, who is considered the first Jewish engraver in Germany, created a few works in his short creative period between 1781 and 1810, with the purchase of this portrait being one of his greatest successes. Schnapper also played a central role in Jewish life in Offenbach, being head of the Jewish community during his term of office from 1781 to 1810.

A valuable contribution to Jewish history

The Jewish community in Offenbach has a long and eventful history that dates back to the 14th century. Supported by the liberal attitude of the people of Isenburg, many Jews settled in Offenbach in the 17th century and contributed to the city's industrial development, particularly in the leather industry and other areas. In the 19th century, the number of Jewish community members increased significantly, primarily due to the influx of Jews from Eastern Europe. Dr. Max Goldschmidt, chairman of the Jewish community from 1911 to 1933, was distinguished by his commitment to the community.

After the Second World War, the Offenbach Jewish Community was re-established on July 20, 1945, and by 1948 the number of members had grown to 86. The new synagogue on Kaiserstrasse, inaugurated in 1956, is still a symbol of the resurgence of the Jewish community in the city. Today, Offenbach still plays an important role in Jewish culture, with the only Jewish kindergarten in the regional association and a diverse youth work program, which has been supported by a city contract since 2010.

Offenbach as a cultural place

Offenbach, located on the left bank of the Main and only a few kilometers from Frankfurt, is not only exceptional historically, but also culturally lively. With its waterfront promenade, which has been revitalized in recent decades, the city offers numerous leisure opportunities. Historical sights such as Isenburg Castle, Rumpenheim Castle and the Büsing Palais are also popular attractions. The Klingspor Museum and the German Leather Museum showcase the rich history of typography and leather production in Offenbach.

The coming weeks promise to be exciting, especially with the upcoming exhibition in which the newly acquired Goethe portrait will be presented. Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke has already expressed his joy about the purchase and is hoping for many interested visitors. Offenbach is in an exciting phase of cultural revival, and the combination of art and history couldn't be more fitting.