Mischlinge Exposé Gallery

My family photos and documents, along with portraits of the composers, poets, and historical figures included in the project.

Click on the photos to view captions and more information about the photos and the lives of those pictured!

My father - Horst (Horace) Joachim Enger

Charlotte Enger, nee Poppelauer, my paternal grandmother

Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), eminent composer and conductor, known best for his ten symphonies Gustav Mahler, who converted from Judaism to Catholicism and back to Judaism, friend of Arnold Schoenberg and Alexander Zemlinsky (Photo from family collection of Piano Forte Foundation, Chicago, IL) From Encyclopedia Britannica: "As part of a German-speaking Austrian minority, he was an outsider among the indigenous Czech population and, as a Jew, an outsider among that Austrian minority; later, in Germany, he was an outsider as both an Austrian from Bohemia and a Jew."

Gustav Mahler with Arnold Rose Arnold Josef Rosé (born Rosenblum; 24 October 1863 – 25 August 1946) was a Romanian-born Austrian Jewish violinist. He was leader of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for over half a century. He worked closely with Brahms. Gustav Mahler was his brother-in-law. Although not known internationally as a soloist he was a great orchestral leader (concertmaster) and player of chamber music, leading the famous Rosé Quartet for several decades. This photo hangs in Pianoforte Studios in Chicago.

Heinrich Heine, poet Photo of poet Heinrich Heine, who converted from Judaism to Protestantism, related to Karl Marx (Photo from Leo Baeck Institute)

Arnold Schoenberg Portrait of composer Arnold Schoenberg, who converted from Judaism to Christianity in the Lutheran church and after long meditation, returned to Judaism, student of Alexander Zemlinsky, who became his brother-in-law, friend of Gustav Mahler (Lithograph from Leo Baeck Institute Exhibit; “Crisis and Opportunity: The Cultural Impact of German-Jewish Refugees”)

Me, Carolyn Enger, at the Center for Jewish History, NYC, after a meeting at the Leo Baeck Institute

Another gallery of photos I feel are important to the project is a little further outside the comfort zone. I recently saw the U.S. Holocaust Memorial’s traveling exhibit on the power of propaganda, and wanted to share a selection of those I found most disturbing. These images and ideas would have been everywhere during my father’s childhood, and even if one does not accept them, they get under the skin nonetheless.

Mischlinge Exposé Gallery

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