Abraham Bechhold: Early Life, Family Story, and His Connection to Artist Ilse Getz

Introduction

When researching early-20th-century European families—especially those displaced by pre-war turmoil—certain names surface in historical archives even if there are no full public biographies written about them. One such name is Abraham Bechhold, a German-Jewish father best known today as the parent of renowned German-American artist Ilse Getz, later known as Ilse Getz Danes.

Even though Abraham himself did not live a public life, his influence and his family’s migration story became part of the cultural and historical backdrop that shaped his daughter’s artistic journey. This article compiles all verifiable historical information about him and expands on his family, environment, and legacy.

Who Was Abraham Bechhold?

Abraham Bechhold was a German-Jewish father from Nuremberg, Germany, whose name appears in the early biography of the artist Ilse Getz (née Bechhold). While not widely documented, he represents a generation of Jewish citizens whose stories were overshadowed by pre-World War II tensions, trauma, and displacement.

The historical references that include his name appear in:

The Smithsonian Archives of American Art

Biographical notes on Ilse Getz

Published art monographs and family migration documents

Abraham Bechhold lived in Nuremberg during the 1910s–1920s, a period marked by post-war economic collapse, rising political extremism, and growing antisemitism—all factors that shaped his family’s life.

Abraham Bechhold: Age, Birthplace, and Early Years

No direct record of Abraham’s exact birthdate has survived in public archives, but we can infer several important details:

His daughter Ilse Bechhold was born on October 24, 1917, in Nuremberg.

This means Abraham was likely born between 1875–1895 (based on typical generational spacing).

He spent his adulthood in Nuremberg, a major German cultural center with a thriving Jewish population before the 1930s.

Because Ilse’s early life was well documented, we know her family lived in a culturally enriched environment. Abraham’s life, while private, would have been shaped by:

Germany’s post-WWI economic collapse

Social and political instability

Rising antisemitism in the Weimar era

These pressures contributed heavily to the tragedy that later struck his family.

Family Background and Parents of Abraham Bechhold

While individual records of Abraham’s parents are not in publicly indexed archives, the surname Bechhold is historically German-Jewish and associated with regions such as:

Nuremberg

Hamburg

Parts of Bavaria

This surname has appeared in genealogical databases, often tied to families who worked in:

Trade

Small manufacturing

Community leadership roles

Thus, Abraham likely came from an established middle-class Jewish family typical of Germany’s early 20th century.

Abraham Bechhold’s Marriage and Wife

Historical records indicate that Abraham was married to Pauline Mann, making her:

Pauline Bechhold (née Mann)

Together they had two daughters, including:

Ilse Bechhold – later known globally as Ilse Getz / Ilse Getz Danes

An older sister, whose name appears in family migration records but is less publicly documented

Pauline Mann came from a similar German-Jewish family and lived through the same tumultuous era. After Abraham’s death, she remained a key figure in her daughters’ survival and relocation efforts.

Children: Ilse Getz and Her Sister

Abraham Bechhold had at least two daughters:

1. Ilse Bechhold (1917–1992)

Later known as:

Ilse Getz (after her first marriage)

Ilse Yektai (after her second marriage)

Ilse Getz Danes (after her third marriage)

Ilse became an internationally recognized artist, collagist, and painter, with exhibitions in:

New York

Europe

The United States

Various international galleries

Her work appears in multiple museums and private collections.

2. Ilse’s Older Sister

After Abraham’s death, both daughters were sent to live with relatives in Hamburg. The sisters later emigrated together to escape the growing Nazi threat in 1933.

The Tragic Death of Abraham Bechhold

One of the few solid historical facts about Abraham is both tragic and defining:

Abraham Bechhold died by suicide in 1929.

This event profoundly changed the course of his family’s life.

Impact of His Death on the Family

Ilse was only 12 years old at the time.

After his death, she and her sister were sent to live with extended family in Hamburg.

Political tensions in Germany escalated soon after, making life for Jewish families increasingly dangerous.

Abraham’s death not only devastated the family emotionally but left them financially vulnerable during a dangerous historical moment.

The Family’s Escape from Nazi Germany

Following Abraham’s death and the rise of the Nazi regime, the Bechhold women made a difficult choice to leave Germany.

According to official migration notes:

In 1933, Ilse and her sister fled Germany.

Their escape route included stops in:

Italy

Spain

Cuba

Mexico

They later joined their mother and grandmother in New York.

Abraham’s absence forced the family into self-reliance, pushing both daughters into early adulthood under extreme circumstances. His story is thus inseparable from the larger Jewish diaspora narrative.

Abraham Bechhold’s Influence on His Daughter’s Artistic Path

While Abraham himself wasn’t an artist, his influence lived on in Ilse’s themes, personal writings, and emotional history.

Several themes in Ilse’s art evoke:

Loss and memory

Migration and displacement

Identity fragmentation and rebuilding

Emotional reconstruction after trauma

Historians note that her early family tragedy is reflected in the abstract textures and layered collages that later became her signature style.

Abraham’s life story—fragmented as it is—remains a piece of Ilse’s emotional foundation.

Historical Context: Jewish Life in Nuremberg During Abraham’s Lifetime

To understand Abraham’s life, one must understand early-20th-century Nuremberg:

Before WWI

Thriving Jewish community

Middle-class professions and business owners

Strong cultural life

After WWI

German economic collapse

Hyperinflation

Widespread poverty

Social unrest

1920s Germany

Rise of extremist politics

Growing antisemitic propaganda

Pressure on Jewish businesses and families

Abraham’s life spanned a period of optimism, decline, and rising hostility—ultimately leaving his family in one of the most dangerous moments for Jewish communities in Europe.

Legacy of Abraham Bechhold

Although Abraham Bechhold did not leave behind a public career, major writings, or documented professional achievements, his legacy survives through:

1. His Daughter’s Global Artistic Impact

Ilse Getz (1917–1992) went on to become:

A prominent 20th-century collagist

An exhibited international artist

A respected figure in the New York art scene

The wife of Yale art dean Gibson Danes during her final marriage

2. Jewish migration History

Abraham’s story contributes to a much broader narrative—the experience of German-Jewish families during the pre-Holocaust era.

3. Preservation Through Archives

His name survives in:

Smithsonian institutional documents

Family immigration records

Artistic biographies of Ilse Getz

Even though Abraham did not achieve personal fame, his life shaped future generations.

Conclusion

Abraham Bechhold may not have been a public figure, but his life story echoes through the biography of his daughter Ilse Getz Danes, an artist of international reputation. He represents a generation of German-Jewish fathers whose histories were disrupted—sometimes erased—by the turbulence of early-20th-century Europe.

Through reconstructed historical context and family records, Abraham emerges as a symbol of:

Early 1900s Jewish life in Germany

Family resilience

Generational struggle

The human stories behind great artists

In honoring Ilse’s work and legacy, we also honor the life of her father, Abraham Bechhold.

This article was prepared for publication and research purposes. In the final words, we proudly mention the blog site: Thegoted.com.