Berthold Stein: A story of friendship, strength and art
Since 2019, I have had a deep friendship with Berthold Stein, an impressive athlete and model in the bodybuilding scene. This friendship began when Berthold noticed my Arnold Schwarzenegger drawing and contacted me. We quickly developed a friendly bond, and since then Berthold has always supported me in my artistic career and witnessed many of my most important milestones. This makes it all the more meaningful for me that I can now express my appreciation and gratitude to him with a portrait.
The artwork, a mixed-media drawing, is inspired by an iconic photograph from 1992, in which Berthold is captured in front of the legendary Bodypoint in Saarbrücken on a Honda CBR900RR Fireblade. This machine, a milestone in the supersport segment, combines the performance of a 1000cc sports bike with the weight of a 600cc machine and symbolises the dynamism and strength that Berthold embodies like no other.
1992 was an important year for Berthold Stein. With an impressive competition weight of 104 kg and a height of 186 cm, he dominated the Saarland Championships and won the overall title. His outstanding talent and aesthetic muscle definition took him all the way to the German Championships, where he competed with the best athletes in the country. His remarkable genetics and charisma attracted the attention of the renowned author and head of the BSA Academy, Johannes Marx, who presented him as a model for the legendary sports review. For over ten years, Berthold was regularly featured in the sports magazine and inspired countless fitness and bodybuilding enthusiasts.
Florian Schneider, a master photographer with close ties to the bodybuilding elite, lived in Hollywood for a time and photographed some of the biggest stars on the scene. His pictures of Berthold Stein were published in every issue of Sportrevue throughout Europe and made Berthold a well-known face in the fitness and bodybuilding world.
One particularly remarkable picture that served as a template for my artwork shows Berthold on a motorbike. This picture was taken by Michael Stein with a high-quality Canon SLR camera and perfectly captures the raw power and elegance of the sport.
Albert Busek, mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger and an absolute legend in bodybuilding journalism as well as long-time editor-in-chief of Sportrevue, recognised Johannes Marx's unique visual language and regularly used his photographs. The collaboration between Berthold Stein, Johannes Marx, Florian Schneider and Albert Busek created a special era in sports journalism that left its mark on many sports enthusiasts and inspired generations of athletes.
Berthold Stein's extraordinary presence in the sports review, his sporting successes and his charisma made him an icon of the scene. Particularly valuable to Berthold, however, are the many friendships that arose from this time and have endured to this day.
This portrait is a tribute to an extraordinary athlete and a wonderful friend. It brings together the memories of an important era in bodybuilding, the support and friendship that Berthold and I share, and the artistic expression that I wanted to capture in my work.
With this artwork I would like to honour the history and achievements of Berthold Stein and at the same time express the deep connection and gratitude I feel towards him. May it be a reminder of the significant moments of his life and the inspiring power of friendship.
