Norbert Ernst Dolezich (1906—1996) was a man of many talents — a graphic artist, a teacher, a writer. In his youth, Dolezich also played the piano and the violin, sang in a choir and even worked as a conductor. But as he got older, he turned to the fine arts. First, the future artist studied at the academy in Koenigsberg, and then improved his skills in Berlin. In 1933, Dolezich passed the state exam which allowed him to teach, and it was a good support during the Second World War. As he avoided draft to the Wehrmacht because of illness, Dolezich taught graphics in his alma mater and then worked as a drawing teacher in a regular school. Teaching was his only source of income and, one might say, saved his life.

Dolezich became really popular for his gloomy surrealistic works created in the post-war period. At that time, abstract art returned to German galleries - the newest trends and ideas dominated everywhere, and the artist’s graphics came in very handy. He painted the ruins of the Gothic churches buried in the sand dunes, as well as landscapes that would now be called post-apocalyptic. Dolezich saw life through blue glasses: he sought to illustrate the idea of its transience or its hollow vanities, as did Baroque painters. Besides, the 20th century that survived two world wars, demanded the artist to use different expressive means, and he looked for them in a laconic and strict technique of aquafortis.

All of this is clearly reflected in An Old Buckthorn Tree at the Samland Coast in West Prussia.

In the center of the composition Dolezich placed an old sea buckthorn tree standing on a grassy island. Most of the branches are already dead, but there are still leaves in the top left part. There are two birds flying next to the tree bole. Grey and yellow background, shading into cold blue makes a somewhat depressing impression. The mood of anxiety is typical of many works of Dolezich informing the viewer that everything passes and fades. The artist supported the idea of human life’s temporality. However, despite everything, he admired the Samland coast (now the Kaliningrad peninsula) and the Curonian Spit, which inspired him to create the aquafortis.