Christoph Kaufmann

Kaufmann, Christoph (Winterthur, 1753-95, Gnadenfeld, Silesia), an enthusiastic follower of J. C. Lavater, was trained as a physician. He became an extravagant propagandist for the religious aspect of the Sturm und Drang, and after receiving initial support was widely derided. Goethe mocked him as ‘Gottes Spürhund’, and F. M. Klinger made him the absurd hero of Plimplamplasko, der hohe Geist (1780). He has also frequently been termed a ‘Kraftapostel’. In this century an attempt has been made to rehabilitate Kaufmann's reputation (W. Milch, 1932). Kaufmann coined the term ‘Sturm und Drang’ as a better title for Klinger's Der Wirrwarr (1776), and thereby unintentionally provided the designation by which the Geniezeit has since generally been known.