Rahel Varnhagen von Ense
Rahel Varnhagen von Ense (1771-1833) was a prominent Berlin-born figure known for her intellectual influence and cultural contributions in 18th and early 19th century Germany. The daughter of a wealthy jeweler, she cultivated her education in a time when opportunities for women were limited, becoming one of Europe's most cultured women. Varnhagen established a renowned salon that attracted notable figures such as writers Friedrich von Schlegel and the Humboldts, fostering an environment of artistic and philosophical exchange.
Her relationships included a notable friendship with the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who admired her intellect. Varnhagen's life was marked by personal challenges, including a turbulent romantic history and the impact of political upheaval during the Napoleonic Wars. After the death of a close friend in battle, she converted to Christianity and married Karl August Varnhagen von Ense, a diplomat, which positioned her at the center of political and cultural discussions during the Congress of Vienna.
While she did not produce a large body of written work herself, her essays appeared in various publications, and her correspondence was compiled and published posthumously. Varnhagen’s legacy lies in her role as a cultural intermediary and her connections to prominent intellectuals of her time, contributing to the rich tapestry of German literature and thought.
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Rahel Varnhagen von Ense
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- Born: May 26, 1771
- Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
- Died: March 7, 1833
- Place of death: Berlin, Germany
Biography
Rahel Levin was born on May 26, 1771, in Berlin, Germany. She was the daughter of a wealthy jeweler who ruled the family almost despotically. Although the education of school-aged girls in Germany was lacking during this period of time, she emerged as one of the most cultured women in Europe. She was friends with the two daughters of philosopher Moses Mendelsohn, Dorothea and Henriette. Also, she was friendly with Henriette Herz, with whom she is frequently associated. While still living with her parents, she established an important salon where notables such as German writer and philosopher Friedrich von Schlegel and the naturalists Alexander von Humboldt and his brother, Wilhelm, were frequent guests.
In 1795, she met German poet and writer Johann Goethe, who praised her for her intelligence and called her a beautiful soul. In 1796, she began a rather unhappy four-year affair with Count Karl Graf von Finckenstein. Two years after her affair with von Finckenstein ended, she became engaged to Spanish diplomat Don Raphel d’Urquijo, but this relationship ended in 1804.
In 1806, Levin’s father died, and she began to live first in Paris, and later in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Prague, and Dresden. This was a particularly unhappy time in Germany because Prussia had been reduced to a small kingdom and its king was living in exile. During this period, many secret societies dedicated to the overthrow of Napoleon were formed, and Levin joined one of them.
Following the death of her friend, Alexander von der Marwitz during a battle against Napoleon, she converted to Christianity. Four days later, she married Alexander von Humboldt’s friend, Karl August Varnhagen von Ense. During the early years of their marriage, Varnhagen’s husband served in the Prussian diplomatic corps, and their home in Berlin was a frequent gathering place for the Prussian delegates to the Congress of Vienna. In 1815 the couple moved first to Vienna, and later to Karlsruhe, where Karl Varnhagen was a Prussian representative. After his retirement from the diplomatic corps, the couple returned to Berlin.
Although she was not a productive writer herself, Varnhagen was surrounded by some of the most important writers, scholars, and artists in Prussia. Some of her essays were printed in Das Morgenblatt, Das Schweizerische Museum, and Der Gesellschafter. Her correspondence with her husband and David Veit was collected into a volume of letters, Rahel: Ein Buch des Andenken, that her husband published posthumously in 1833.