Page - 8 - in Erica Tietze-Conrat - Tagebücher, Volume II: Mit den Mitteln der Disziplin (1937–1938)

8 Foreword impressed by the pictures on the wall, she noted the eccentricities and posturing of some of the more pretentious art historians they met. Of one she noted : “Sehr selbst- verliebt, sich auf seinen Charme verlassend, oxfordisch schnoddrig u. high brow,” asking in conclusion, after quoting a rather fatuous statement by him : “Kann man versnobter sein ?” In addition to registering the response of two connoisseurs, the diaries are also a travelogue. We are informed of the weather and conditions of travel : “Sea rather rough,” Erica quotes the announcement on the boat train crossing the English Channel, adding : “Das Schreiben ist nicht leicht …” As we travel from city to city with them, she observes the details of railroad stations and cars and the quality of the many hotels. Indeed, most of the entries made upon arrival in a new city be- gin with a quick observation on the hotel, its site, its rooms, its price : “nicht sehr gemütlich” ; “gut, aber teuer” ; “ruhig, primitiv eingerichtet” ; “sehr ruhiges Zimmer. Mit Bad 50 fr.” And food is treated to the same scrutiny, depending upon the loca- tion. In Switzerland, breakfast of “Chocolade und Schlag” is duly noted. But a feast in Dijon is worthy of full description : “das zog sich  – echt franz[ösische] Provinz  – fast zwei Stunden lang hin. Hors d’œuvres, in Butter gebrat[ene] Fische, Endiv[ien] mit Käse u. Bechamel in d. Gratinierschüssel, Lammcot[elette] mit Erdäpfel u. ge- füllten Tomaten, Salat, Käse, Obst, Vin compris. Und was für einer ! Da muß man zwecks Verdauung einen Schwarzen trinken. Jetzt wiederum im Museum, das ist eine harte Nuß.” The diaries move in and out of work, in effect between life and art. As they con- tinue into 1938, however, life becomes ever more urgent : “Heute kommt der Führer nach Italien” (2 May). Erica follows news of the meetings of Hitler with Mussolini and then Chamberlain with growing, and understandable, foreboding, as she listens on the radio to Hitler’s ranting : “Doch haben wir d. Radiorede Chamberlains am 25. abends gehört, deren Ton unsagbar wohltuend von dem hysterischen Bierbankgebrüll Hitlers abstach” (29 September). Two days later she laments : “Mein Gott, was hat man nicht in diesen 2 Tagen wieder alles erlebt ? Der Krieg ist abgeblasen, Hitlers Wille fast in jedem Punkt erfüllt.” By 6 December, having made application some weeks earlier, the Tietzes obtained their American visas. Hans had already received an invitation to be a visiting profes- sor at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio. The accomplishments of this emigré art historian were impressive indeed : he was responsible for reorganizing the museums of Vienna and was author of twelve volumes of the Österreichische Kunsttopographie, a publication dedicated to the art monuments of Austria, as well as of an important book on the theories and methods of art history. Together, the Tietzes published the first major catalogue of the work of Albrecht Dürer. Despite all that, in America Hans Tietze never found the position in the acad- emy that he deserved. Serving in an advisory capacity to museums and collectors, the