With the help of collector D. M. in Berlin the location of this monochrome print became known. The identity of the artist is not confirmed. She could be the sister of Hedwig Hauck. Their brother lived in Hirschberg in Silesia.  The print obviously was created  after an existing photograph.  

Sühnteich (“Sinn pond”) 

is a deep pond in the centre of an ancient Silesian (Czech) highland moor just South-West of the small village of Rejvis or in German Reihwiesen (Region Olomouc, Woiwodschaft Opole). The village in eastern Czechia region known as Altvader mountains (alt. 780 mtr.), along an ancient salt trading route from Austria to the East (now Poland) was build by German settlers (Heimat Deutsche) in the 18. and 19. century . 

Local mythology claims a large city (Hunstadt) sunk under the surface of the moor as punishment for immoral behaviour of its citizens. The pond said to be the location of its church. 

An identical mythical site is Vineta: a city somewhere along the East-sea coast (also said to be in Sweden) with a same faith: destroyed or sunk beneath the surface, this is also why the Czech (Silesian) location is known as “Schlesische Vineta”.   

Biblical Sodom and Gomorra comes to mind and also the myth of Atlantis, to explain similarities and origin of the myth. 

The remote spot is known for its unique flora and fauna (as well as the home of fable animals) and is the origin of one of the 3 sources of the Oppa, a part of the Oder river basin. 

The German population (“Heimat-deutsche”) of the village, the highest village in Silesia was expelled or murdered after WW-II in 1945 and all their belongings confiscated.  

In 1900 a 23 year old German school teacher (and poet) Gustav Parg (1877-1954) came to lead the single-class school in the small sleepy village. Until his departure almost 40 years later, with his pen, charismatic and passionate accounts of the beauty and mystery of the region he motivated hundreds of Germans to visit and stay in the village in summer and winter. Many  decided to build a private summer house in the region (“Altvaterland”) or stayed in the local well known inn’s (“Gasstätte Seehirtenhof” (below in winter) and “Birkhahn” Metzner. A stay was said to be therapeutical for body and mind.