A House Tells a Story: The Art, Scholarship, and Friends of Else and Otto Fleissner in Aurora

Every house has a story to tell about the families who have lived there. But few have told their story as eloquently as the Else and Otto Fleissner home in Aurora. The Fleissner home, at the time of the February 2009 sale, was considered an “authentic house,” meaning that most of the home’s interior retained its original elements since the time it was built (1900). Additionally, the home was purchased “as is,” meaning the contents of the house were sold together with the house. While a Fleissner descendant was given permission to take some limited contents, what remained throughout the home was considerable. Pantry cupboards, dresser and desk drawers, attic spaces, steamer trunks, and closets revealed the personal and professional histories, personalities, and talents of Else and Otto Fleissner.

While researching the stunning portraits of the Fleissners by photographer Josef Schiff we discovered a nexus of artist and musician friends who visited the Fleissners in Aurora, including Louis Ouzer, Alec Wilder, and Karl Blocherer. Some of Blocherer’s original paintings and drawings along with ten paintings by Otto Fleissner were included in the exhibit. Twelve of Otto and Else Fleissner’s books, many used for decades as standard textbooks for college courses in German literature throughout the United States, were also part of the exhibit.

PDF tour of the exhibit by Ken Larson.

Video tour of the exhibit by Linda Dugan, with music by Alec Wilder, one of the Fleissner friends.

Else Fleissner, Portrait by Josef Schiff

Otto Fleissner, Portrait by Josef Schiff

“White Sails”: Painting by Otto Fleissner (1957)

Books by Else and Otto Fleissner. Many were standard textbooks for college courses in German literature throughout the United States.