Charles Spindler (11 March 1865 in Bœrsch – 3 March 1938 in Bœrsch) was an Alsatian painter, marquetry inlayer, writer and photographer. He was also a supporter of Alsatian

regionalism Regionalism may refer to: * Regionalism (art), an American realist modern art movement that was popular during the 1930s * Regionalism (international relations), the expression of a common sense of identity and purpose combined with the creation a ...

and founded several institutions for the promotion of

Alsatian culture Alsace (, ; ; Low Alemannic German/ gsw-FR, Elsàss ; german: Elsass ; la, Alsatia) is a cultural region and a territorial collectivity in eastern France, on the west bank of the upper Rhine next to Germany and Switzerland. In 2020, it had ...

Life and work

His father was a notary. At the age of twelve, he was enrolled in drawing classes and received encouragement to make art a career from his uncle , a painter. A scholarship he received in 1882 enabled him to study in Düsseldorf, Munich and Berlin. While in Munich, he met

Martin von Feuerstein Martin Feuerstein (after 1914, Martin Ritter von Feuerstein; 6 January 1856, Barr - 13 February 1931, Munich) was a German painter and art teacher. He was a late adherent of the Nazarene movement, but was also heavily influenced by impressionism ...

, a painter of sacred art, who introduced him to the Ott Brothers (glass makers) in 1887. After executing several projects for them in

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

and completing his military service, he returned to Bœrsch, but found little work. By chance, he befriended

Anselme Laugel Marie Anselme Victor Henri Laugel (3 April 1851, Strasbourg - 29 July 1928, Bœrsch) was a French- Alsatian author and politician. Biography His father, François Joseph Victor Laugel (1817-1885), a locksmith, served on the Strasbourg City Cou ...

, a politician and writer who painted in his spare time and became a major supporter of Spindler's efforts.Amis du Cercle de Saint-Léonard