02/09/2026
Do you know this place?
Lottie Reizenstein was a Jewish artist and designer, born in Nuremberg in 1904. Along with her brother, Franz, and mother, Lina, she fled N**i persecution in 1936 (Lina escaped in 1939) and settled in the Hampstead, North-West London.
Franz Reizenstein was able to continue his career as a successful composer and concert pianist, whilst Lottie sold and exhibited her paintings, alongside being an art tutor and designing for various companies. She was a member of the Artist’s International Association, the Hampstead Artist’s Council, and the Council of Industrial Design.
Many of Lottie’s paintings depict landscapes from places she visited after her exile. The gouache painting shown on the first slide will feel familiar to anyone who has visited Hampstead Village, where she lived. Its warm tones, the tree-lined square, and orange-brick walls capture the character of the area, with similar scenes visible throughout the neighbourhood.
However, the exact location of the scene is unknown, and we would love to know if anyone recognises the street corner! Lottie Reizenstein lived around NW6 and NW3 from 1936 until her death in 1982. Please comment below if you think you know!
The Lottie Reizenstein Collection is currently being catalogued at the Senate House Library and will be available to access by the end of the year.
