Editing Wilhelm Busch (section)

===Frankfurt===
Increasing economic success allowed Busch to visit Wiedensahl more frequently. Busch had decided to leave Munich, as only few relatives lived there and the artist association was temporarily disbanded.<ref name="Weissweiler, p. 138">Weissweiler, p. 138</ref> In June 1867 Busch met his brother Otto for the first time, in [[Frankfurt]]. Otto was working as a tutor to the family of a wealthy banker and industrialist, Kessler. Busch became friends with Kessler's wife, Johanna, a mother of seven and an influential art and music [[Patronage|patron]] of Frankfurt. She regularly opened [[Salon (gathering)|salons]] at her villa, frequented by artists, musicians, and philosophers.<ref>Weissweiler, p. 155</ref> She believed Busch to be a great painter, a view supported by [[Anton Burger (artist)|Anton Burger]], a leading painter of the Kronberger Malerkolonie, the [[Kronberg im Taunus|Kronberg]]-based group of painters.<ref>Weissweiler, p. 156</ref> While his humorous drawings did not appeal to her, she supported his painting career. At first she established an apartment and studio for Busch in her villa, later providing him with an apartment nearby.<ref>Kraus, p. 55</ref> Motivated by Kessler's support and admiration, and introduction to the cultural life of Frankfurt, the 'Frankfurter Years' were the most artistically productive for Busch. At this time he and Otto discovered the philosophical works of [[Arthur Schopenhauer]].<ref>Diers, pp. 75–76</ref>

Busch did not remain in Frankfurt. Toward the end of the 1860s he alternated between Wiedensahl and Lüthorst, and [[Wolfenbüttel]] where his brother Gustav lived.<ref>Weissweiler, p. 159</ref> The association with Johanna Kessler lasted five years, and after his return to Wiedensahl in 1872 they communicated by letter. This contact was interrupted between 1877 and 1891, after which it was revived with the help of Kessler's daughters.<ref>Wessing, p. 85</ref>