English translation: walk free / break free / step free / free oneself (from) / liberate oneself
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German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / description of sculptor's work
German term or phrase:heraustreten
This word appears in the following poetic description of Barlach's work and the inspiration he took from peasant women he saw singing together:
[...] (es) erhob sich auf einmal ein gerührtes Staunen: ich sah, daß diese Frauen wirklich singen; sah, daß sie das Glück des Singens selber sind; sah, daß in der Art, wie ihre schweren arbeitgewohnten Leiber vertraut gegeneinander lehnten, ein Rhythmus befreienden Gesanges atmete; sah, daß sie unbedingt grade alle drei dasselbe Gesicht haben mußten, daß sie auch unbedingt drei sein mußten - sie waren der Acker, von dem Dank aufstieg, sie waren die schwere dunkle Erde, aus deren aufgewühlten Wellenfurchen Gesang herausbricht. Gebundene, Gedrückte, Gefesselte, die heraustreten können, könnten, möchten oder wollen sind alle Gestalten Barlachs, die bemeißelten und die gezeichneten.
I give the above quote from the article below exactly as it is cited in the text I am translating (I presume that the last sentence isn't quite right - a comma missing at least. The last sentence extends to include all the work of Barlach, so does not necessarily apply only to the women mentioned here. I understand 'heraustreten' to mean protrude, emerge, and such like. [Also to step out or prolapse - but presumably not here.] I don't really understand what is meant here exactly, though. It may be some sort of earthy metaphor referencing the emergence of the subject from the material, whatever that may be in any given case, but I would really appreciate some confirmation of this - or, indeed, a better suggestion if someone has one. Many thanks to anyone out there.
[As cited from Dora Wentscher: Ernst Barlach, Bildhauer und Dichter. In. Die Schaubühne, hrsg. von Siegfried Jacobsohn, 13. Jg. (1917), Nr. 51. Seite 587]
Explanation: The above would be my ideas to set the ball rolling but others might come up with better suggestions. I think the process of "heraustreten" needs to be emphasised here, as opposed to the rather static aspect of just "standing out".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 56 mins (2009-04-04 19:17:45 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I believe "escape" would take things too far in this case; I also agree with Andrea's reasoning.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-04 19:58:07 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Yes, I'd go along with that. As an alternative, how about using something along the lines of "free themselves of..." (although this would require an addition after the "of")?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2009-04-04 20:27:41 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
True :-) - would you use "free of" or "free from"?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2009-04-04 21:44:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Well, in the end I have decided to go with my own 'walk free'. I am not persuaded that this is something forceful - I can't see that in 'heraustreten'. Some of Barlach's work is dramatic and forceful, but that is not implied in this context. I got to my answer after reading andres-larsen's answer, so thanks to him. Steffen gets the points for confirming my answer and coming up with 'break free' and 'free themselves (from)'. It was reassuring to have Bernhard thinking along the same lines. But in general thanks to all contributors for time, energy and intelligent thought. 3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Difficult to give context beyond what I have given here without writing (yet another) lecture on Barlach's art. He is so well-known and people's response is always subjective anyway. All of the respondents here have come up with highly intelligent, thoughtful answers. As the Asker I have to consider the audience of the text (who are very well versed in B's art) and use my own personal knowledge of the subject. It is always thus.
The 'break free' option works for me - perfectly! To be honest, without more context, I would (have) interpret(ed) the term the same way as Andrea did. But breaking free could be understood BOTH literally and metaphorically.
what you think about using 'to escape'? It doesn't need to say what from, which is of benefit here. This critique is written early in Barlach's career - I think he is rather more melancholy than the author seems to think, but I presume she sees an opportunity for his figures to change.
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Answers
10 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): -1
stand out
Explanation: Muret/Sanders
KARIN ISBELL United States Local time: 05:20 Works in field Native speaker of: English, German
Explanation: bound, subjugated, tied up women, who can, would want, want, or aspire to step out of their tradition-bound roles
source:
BBC News | TALKING POINT | Are men trapped in outdated roles? - 7 Nov 2000 ... Women have begun ***to step out of their traditional roles*** as mothers ..... look (superficially) its reverse: women subjugating their daughters ...
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/988433.stm - 107k -
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 24 mins (2009-04-04 18:46:02 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
two additional sources:
[PDF] Gender Matters in The Merry Wives of Windsor - : PDF/Adobe Acrobat - HTML
a community; gender is bound by a community’s sense of what is desirable conduct for a ... ***the “shrew” served to discourage women from stepping out of their assigned roles***. ... The women’s wit catches men out while simultaneously upholding ... In what sense have the wives “failed” in their traditional gender roles? ...
tma.byu.edu/fileadmin/tma/user_files/Production_History/Study_Guides-PH/MerryWivesSG.pdf -
LEADER Magazine: Spring Break Jungle Escape - Part of the Outward Bound school tradition is not to give girls roles during ... I explained that their role in the team was first to take care of themselves. ... ***We can step out of our leadership shoes and encourage girls to fill them***. ... www.girlscouts.org/for_adults/leader_magazine/2005_fall/spr... - 33k -
andres-larsen Venezuela Local time: 07:50 Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: This is an interesting thought. If so it would mean using the vehicle of song and only temporarily, because the whole point of Barlach's work is that people strive to, but ultimately do not, escape their earthly condition.
48 mins confidence:
emerge/come to life
Explanation: Ich verstehe "heraustreten" eher so, dass die dargestellten Personen aus der Skulptur, Zeichnung usw. heraustreten, sozusagen zum Leben erweckt werden, wenn der Betrachter das will und sich auf ihre Geschichte/ihr Schicksal einlassen möchte.
.... Dennoch sind sie nicht hermetisch in sich geschlossen, sondern fließen in die Welt hinaus. Man spürt die innere Kraft der Figuren mit der sie bestrebt, sind sich im Außen zu verorten. .... http://www.wolfhowl.de/kunst_barlach.htm
Seine Skulpturen sind Persönlichkeiten. In ihren Gesichtern spiegelt sich das Leben wieder, das sie führen, das sie leiden, das sie freut.
Versteht man die Zeit ihrer Entstehung, findet man einen Zugang zu der Schwere ihres Ausdrucks.
Jedoch gewinnt man stets den Ausdrucks, dass Barlach seine Figuren über ihre Gegenwart hinauswachsen lässt.
Man mag meinen, sie bleiben nicht stehen um ihr Schicksal zu beklagen, sie schauen still und intensiv in eine NEUE ZEIT.
Es ist Barlach eine Sehnsucht zu eigen, die den Betrachter mit einbezieht. Wie kein anderer sucht er die Perspektive, den anderen Blickwinkel auf für das Leben, das unwiederruflich kommen wird.
Im Bewußtsein ihrer Gegenwart hören die Menschen in die NEUE ZEIT hinaus. Barlachs Figuren sind Hörende, denn das Hören ist für den Künstler die vornehmste menschliche Fähigkeit. Denn im Lauschen nehmen wir das kommende wahr und können uns darauf einstellen, ihm entgegentreten oder es in uns aufnehmen. http://www.kirchengemeinde-schalke.de/07a.htm
Andrea Winzer United States Local time: 08:20 Specializes in field Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 23
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for this, Andrea. I don't think though that this is what is meant here. Your refs talk about his later work. I do think his figures live in the here and now as well as striving towards something higher. They are often seen as schwebend between one and the other. But they are very full of life in the here and now even if it is a very heavy existence often. [sorry to be so picky; I am very grateful for all the help - it is very thought-provoking!]
Explanation: a forceful stepping forward, unchain, untangling, extricating, all mirrored in the expressiveness of the men and women of his art is how I understand it in this context. Should have a lot to do with the forcefulness and energy of his figures. The only problem is that heraustreten sounds less forceful, but I do not think it simply means to take a couple of steps forward, especially because of what comes before, the description of the shackled, the tied maybe chained women. I would use a strong, emphatic word. I like your "escape".
Mirrored in the form and thus also figuratively very forceful wish, want, or real action.
Barlach studied art in Hamburg, Germany, and later in Dresden and Paris. Influenced early in his career by Jugendstil, Germany’s Art Nouveau style, he vacillated between pursuing sculpture and the decorative arts. In 1906 he traveled to Russia, where the strong bodies and expressive faces of the peasants stimulated his commitment to sculpture and to the development of his mature style, which characteristically features bulky, monumental figures in heavy drapery. In works such as The Solitary One (1911), details of the figure are eliminated and the massive forms seem ready to explode with bound energy. Barlach achieved a rough-hewn quality by preferring wood, the material used in late Gothic sculpture.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2009-04-04 20:44:20 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
or without the "from" for free/liberate themselves
another option
breaking through
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2009-04-04 20:50:18 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
metaphorically speaking, I would not shy away from free..escape..etc.
:)
Bernhard Sulzer United States Local time: 08:20 Specializes in field Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 55
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Bernhard - yes, this is the direction I want to go in - see earlier comments to Steffen and his suggestion. The women are not shackled except metaphorically - tied to circumstance, to the earth, to the feudal system, etc. And I don't think it is too forceful, which is perhaps why 'heraustreten' was chosen in the first place. To 'walk free' or 'step free' or 'break away' would work, or as you and Steffen say, to free themselves, though to me that is getting very near the perhaps too extreme 'escape'. Thanks for your assistance.
39 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +2
rise/stand up/emerge (from the earth/ground)
Explanation: The above would be my ideas to set the ball rolling but others might come up with better suggestions. I think the process of "heraustreten" needs to be emphasised here, as opposed to the rather static aspect of just "standing out".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 56 mins (2009-04-04 19:17:45 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
I believe "escape" would take things too far in this case; I also agree with Andrea's reasoning.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-04 19:58:07 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Yes, I'd go along with that. As an alternative, how about using something along the lines of "free themselves of..." (although this would require an addition after the "of")?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2009-04-04 20:27:41 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
True :-) - would you use "free of" or "free from"?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 3 hrs (2009-04-04 21:44:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Combining the ideas - what about "break free"?
Steffen Walter Germany Local time: 14:20 Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 19
Grading comment
Well, in the end I have decided to go with my own 'walk free'. I am not persuaded that this is something forceful - I can't see that in 'heraustreten'. Some of Barlach's work is dramatic and forceful, but that is not implied in this context. I got to my answer after reading andres-larsen's answer, so thanks to him. Steffen gets the points for confirming my answer and coming up with 'break free' and 'free themselves (from)'. It was reassuring to have Bernhard thinking along the same lines. But in general thanks to all contributors for time, energy and intelligent thought.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help, Steffen - how do you feel about 'to walk free' then? I don't go along with Andrea's take in this instance, by the way - see my notes to her.
Asker: Thanks, Steffen - that is also a good idea and would not need specifying [an 'of'] if used in this poetic way. It is getting perilously close to escape though now!!
Asker: I would use neither 'of' nor 'from' in this case, since I think I should try and find something that doesn't specify. Thanks for all the brainstorming. I'm going to see which variant appeals in the morning!
1 day5 hrs confidence:
to squirm free of or flee
Explanation: Sich aus einer Situation herauswinden oder fliehen.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
