Alfred Hesse

Alfred Hesse (born May 18, 1904 in Schmiedeberg , Saxony , † November 25, 1988 in Dresden ) was a German painter, graphic artist and wall designer, member of the artist group " Das Ufer - Group 1947 Dresden Artists", from 1957 lecturer for wall painting at the university for fine arts Dresden , 1965 to 1970 professor for wall painting.

Life

Early years

Alfred Hesse was taught drawing from an early age by his father, who was a carpenter by trade. Hesse completed an apprenticeship as a painter and worked as a decorative painter .

In 1924 he applied to the State Academy for Applied Arts in Dresden . Based on his submitted artist portfolio, he was given a free study place and free lunch, which secured his studies. His teachers were Arno Drescher , Georg Erler , Max Frey , Paul Herrmann and Heinrich Wieynck . Georg Erler, who knew how to explain art so well and taught how to “see” art, or Arno Drescher, whose generous, soft style of painting matched the cozy nature of Alfred Hesse and whose late work is again strongly felt, laid the cornerstones for his artistic work Foundation.

Even while still a student, Hesse received several orders as an illustrator. The Fritz-Riebold- Verlag recorded its depictions of workers and family scenes in several books. In 1927 Hesse won a competition for the "Sächsische Werke", the monthly newspaper of the Sächsische Werke corporation, and illustrated the story "The misunderstood beloved" in the magazine "Elektrizität". But Hesse not only made a name for himself as an illustrator during this time, several advertising boxes were also produced for the Feldschlößchen brewery , the Sulima cigarette factory, the Dresden curtain and lace manufacture, the magazine “Die Neue Linie” and the Reemtsma cigarette brand Ova. At the end of his studies, he also produced several poster designs, including “Deutsche Lufthansa”, “Visits Stettin” and “Zoo”. In 1929 Hesse wanted to go to Emil Orlik at the state schools in Berlin , but a crucial assignment changed his plans.

Early artist years and wartime

Shortly after completing his studies, Hesse received his first major artistic commission from the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden, which initiated 10 years of freelance work. A 32-meter-long wall frieze was to be painted in oil, which was supposed to represent the "nutritional history of mankind". This not only met Hesse's preference for large-scale wall painting, but also partially secured his livelihood for a life in the art city of Dresden. The large wall frieze later fell victim to the devastating air raid on Dresden . Further orders from the Hygiene Museum were initially in prospect, and so the residence on the Elbe was and remained Alfred Hesse's adopted home until the end of his life.

Hesse became increasingly known for his atmospheric watercolors through exhibitions in the House of Jury Free in Berlin, the Dresden Artists' Association and the Saxon Art Association , but also through gallery exhibitions in the Dresden art dealers Kühl and Richter . Several study trips to the Netherlands , Hungary and Austria deepened Hesse's preference for landscape painting. In the period that followed, his artistic work was completed and found in exhibitions throughout Germany. However, this development was interrupted by the Second World War. Hesse had to do military service in the Netherlands. He returned to the devastated Dresden in 1946 after being captured by the British ( Schleswig-Holstein ).

Post war and 1950s

When Hesse returned to Dresden, his hometown was in ruins. There was a housing shortage and hunger, luckily his family had survived. Many artists started anew and after a short time social life developed again. The confrontation with fascism and war, but also the rebuilding dominated in Dresden art and thus also in Hesse's work. He became a member of the Dresden artist group "Das Ufer - Gruppe 1947 Dresden Artists".

From 1947 Hesse worked as a freelancer and was involved in several exhibitions in Dresden , Freiberg and Berlin , for example in exhibitions at the German Academy of the Arts in Berlin , the Dresden State Art Collections and in a large number of “Das-Ufer” exhibitions.

In the following two trends shaped his artistic life. From an unrestricted, free creative joy, watercolors, drawings and oil paintings emerged, predominantly in landscape painting, without neglecting figurative designs such as playing children, working people or depictions of animals. The other stream of his work was more closely tied to set limits, tasks and purposes - wall painting. Hesse's skills in casein painting , sgraffito technique and glass mosaic found expression in several architecture-related works of art, for example in the first mural, which was inaugurated in Dresden after 1945. This mural, handed over to the Higher Regional Court in 1951 , has also already fallen victim to the new political system, an art-political conflict. Like many earlier murals in the GDR, it was the victim of an iconoclasm, which was to be seen as an educational measure against the visual artists and their undesirable “formalistic” art.

Dresden University of Fine Arts

Due to his murals in Dresden and his entire artistic work, Hesse was considered particularly suitable for the position of lecturer in craft studies at the Dresden University of Fine Arts and was appointed lecturer in 1957. Hesse stayed at the university for 13 years. In 1965 he was appointed professor of wall painting , in 1970 he left after reaching the age limit.

During this time, a number of building-related works of art were created, some of which can still be viewed in Dresden today. The mural “Man and Science” from 1959 in the foyer of the Dresden University of Engineering reflects the discussion on the subject of energy. In 2009, shortly before it was torn down, this mural was saved and preserved for posterity during the renovation of the building complex by the Dresden University of Fine Arts, specializing in the conservation and restoration of wall paintings and architectural colors. Another mural on the building of the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium Dresden , which was restored and preserved in 2009 , deals with the subject of “The first person in space”.

His five-week study trip through Mongolia in 1964 made a deep impression . In the following intensive, multi-year creative period, a large number of works were created, which were shown in several exhibitions. For example, the opening exhibition of the carillon pavilion of the Dresden Zwinger in 1964 as well as the exhibition “Mongolia Experience” presented in 1965 in the East Asian Collection of the Pergamon Museum in Berlin were dedicated to this topic . The city of Dresden honored Hesse with the Martin Andersen Nexö Art Prize in 1965 .

The late work

“For me, experiencing nature is the starting point of every work.” This commitment has accompanied Hesse since he turned to Saxon Switzerland in particular at the beginning of the sixties , initially at the side of a hiking friend, later also alone. Countless depictions of landscapes from the Elbe region, the Ore Mountains and the Baltic Sea testify to his ever-newly discovered love for nature, which, filled with "seagull trees", "root octopuses" or "rock clams", inspired him to create almost surrealistic depictions in this late creative period. Hesse confessed: "The more the formal language of Saxon Switzerland became familiar to me, the more it gained and wins a primary place in my current work in motivating my work, comparable to a late love."

In the last few years, Hesse could hardly reach for a brush and pen, which pained him because he was a lifelong intensive creator, always with a sketch pad outside in nature. He often allowed himself to be driven to the places he liked best: the Elbe with its slopes, the mountains and gorges of Saxon Switzerland and his closer home around the Eastern Ore Mountains Schmiedeberg . Alfred Hesse died on November 25, 1988 in his home in Dresden.

Artistic work

Painting by Alfred Hesse "Ice winter on the Elbe"

Watercolor by Alfred Hesse "Mongol in red deel"

Sgraffito by Alfred Hesse

Rooted in the New Objectivity , Hesse's work can be assigned to the realistic art movement, even if expressive, surrealistic and cubist influences can be recognized at times.

Painting and graphics

Hesse mastered a wide range of painting techniques. In addition to water and oil paints , he also used chalks and casein paints and experimented on different surfaces. His artistic prints include lithographs, etchings and woodcuts and show a broad thematic spectrum: depictions of people, especially children, and views of landscapes, villages and cities.

Building related art

Hesse designed casein painting , sgraffito technique and glass mosaic. Many of his building-related works in the Saxon area have been preserved and have been preserved and restored in recent years:

• Sgraffito "The first person in space", Marie-Curie-Gymnasium Dresden , Zirkusstraße 7, restored in 2009 by the Dresden University of Fine Arts, degree course in art technology, conservation and restoration of art and cultural assets, specialist class for conservation and restoration of wall paintings and architectural colors
• Wall painting Gerhart-Potthoff-Bau , TU Dresden , Fritz-Foerster-Platz ; joint work with Erich Gerlach
• Sgraffito at the former institute for blood donation, Medical Academy Dresden , Fiedlerstraße, there is also a reproduction in the new blood donation building ( Blasewitzer Straße  68-70, rear building)
• Mural painting "Man and Science" in the staircase of the former engineering school, later TU Dresden , Hans-Grundig-Straße 25, mural was approved by the Dresden University of Fine Arts , is currently in the university
• Wall painting in the culture house FEMA (formerly VEB Silika- und Schamottewerke) in Rietschen / Oberlausitz , Rothenburger Straße 14

Exhibitions

Alfred Hesse's works have so far been shown in 190 exhibitions in Germany, Mongolia , the People's Republic of China , Hungary , Finland , England and Poland .

A large number of his works can be found in the art fund of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden as well as in the art depot of the Federal Berlin including the diplomatic representations in Paris, Rome, Lagos, Vienna, New York, Helsinki, Mexico, Porto and Shanghai.

The German Historical Museum and the New National Gallery in Berlin, the Chemnitz Art Collections , the Museum of Young Art in Frankfurt (Oder) , the State Art Collections and the Dresden City Museum have individual works in their holdings.

Selected solo exhibitions and participations:

• 1931: Berlin , jury-free art show , special exhibition eighth row
• 1936: Spring, autumn and December exhibition at the Sächsischer Kunstverein Dresden
• 1937, 1938, 1939: Christmas exhibitions at the Sächsischer Kunstverein Dresden
• 1946: Kiel Art Salon Hans Roos "Painting Exhibition G. Alfred Hesse"
• 1953/1954: Dresden Albertinum , autumn exhibition of Dresden artists
• 1956: Dresden, Albertinum, "Art Exhibition of Dresden and Stuttgart Artists - 750 Years of Dresden"
• 1961: Karl-Marx-Stadt , municipal art collections "Alfred Hesse - paintings / watercolors / drawings"
• 1963: Görlitz , municipal art collections "Alfred Hesse - paintings, watercolors and graphics"
• 1964: Dresden, Zwinger , opening exhibition of the glockenspiel pavilion "Alfred Hesse - paintings, watercolors and graphics"
• 1964/1965: Dresden, "200 years of the University of Fine Arts"
• 1965: Berlin, East Asian Collection in the Pergamon Museum , "Experience Mongolia Alfred Hesse - Painting and Graphics"
• 1965: Dresden, Dresden Zwinger / Glockenspiel pavilion, "Alfred Hesse, Waldo Köhler"
• 1967, 1968: Dachau , art exhibitions in Dachau Castle
• 1970: Dresden, State Art Collection, "Immortal Dresden"
• 1976: Dresden, New Masters Gallery , "200 Years of Painting in Dresden"
• 1984: Dresden, Pretiosensaal of the Dresden Palace, "The Shore - Group 1947 Dresden Artists"
• 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th district art exhibition in Dresden
• II.-VII. German art exhibition
• 2003: Kunsthaus Dresden , "Keep on Looking"
• 2007–2011: Dresden, exhibitions in the art fund of the state art collections
• 2012: Wilsdruff , solo exhibition in the local history museum "Metamorphoses"
• 2012: Hamburg , solo exhibition in the Zoological Museum Hamburg "Captured with the eye - animal drawings and sketches by Alfred Hesse"
• 2014: Dippoldiswalde , solo exhibition for Hesse's 110th birthday in the Museum Osterzgebirgsgalerie in Dippoldiswalde Castle "Alfred Hesse (1904–1988) Painting and Graphics"
• 2014: Dresden, anniversary exhibition for the 110th birthday "Alfred Hesse - Painter.Graphician.Wurner", Villa Eschebach , Dresdner Volksbank Raiffeisenbank eG, October 14, 2014 to January 9, 2015
• 2015–17: Traveling exhibition "Industrial ruins - Aesthetics of decay" shows the artist's only glass picture in the former VEB Robotron Radeberg, the original demolished
• 2018: Exhibition "The Art Ownership of TU Dresden # 1 - Acquisitions and Commissioned Works from the 1950s"
• 2018: Alfred Hesse Symposium on the 30th anniversary of the artist's death in the custody of the TU Dresden with an exhibition of watercolors from the TU's art collection
• 2020: Exhibition "The Art Ownership of the TU Dresden # 2 Realism and Eastern Modernism - Acquisitions and Commissioned Works from the 1960s"

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Wall painting approval 2009. HfBK Dresden, accessed on February 27, 2018 . 
2. ↑ TIME the reader. A Mongolian trip
3. ↑ Angela Buchwald: New Findings on Alfred Hesse's mural “Man and Science” (PDF; 6.8 MB), University Archives of the Technical University of Dresden , July 4, 2011.
4. ^ Exhibition "Keep on looking" 2003
5. ↑ Anniversary exhibition for the 110th birthday in the Villa Eschebach Dresden ( Memento from December 4, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
6. ↑ Flyer of the anniversary exhibition in the Villa Eschebach Dresden
7. ^ Exhibition The Art Ownership of the TU Dresden # 1
8. ^ Exhibition The Art Collection of the TU Dresden # 2

literature

• Hesse, Alfred . In: Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.): General Lexicon of Fine Artists of the XX. Century. tape 2 : E-J . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1955, p. 434 .
• Hesse, Alfred . In: Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.): General Lexicon of Fine Artists of the XX. Century. tape 5 : V-Z. Supplements: A-G . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1961, p. 51 .
• Dietmar Eisold : Lexicon artists in the GDR. Verlag Neues Leben, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-355-01761-9 , p. 357.
• Hildegard Adermann: Art in Public Space. Dresden 1998.
• Peter Guth: Walls of Promise. Thom, Leipzig 1998, ISBN 3-9803346-7-8 .
• Hans F. Schweers: Paintings in German museums. Saur, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-598-24040-6 .
• Langner, Ferbert, Adamczyk, Busch: The artist group “Das Ufer”. Thesis . University of Education Dresden, 1977.
• Hierholzer: The plaster cut “The First Cosmonaut” (1961) on the east facade of the auditorium of the Marie-Curie-Gymnasium Dresden. Thesis. Dresden University of Fine Arts, 2009.
• Hesse, Alfred . In: General Artist Lexicon . The visual artists of all times and peoples (AKL). Volume 72, de Gruyter, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-11-023177-9 , p. 494.

Web links

Commons : Alfred Hesse  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Literature by and about Alfred Hesse in the catalog of the German National Library
• Alfred Hesse works in the Dresden State Art Collections