Franz K. Opitz
Franz Karl Opitz (born November 5, 1916 in Zurich ; † December 16, 1998 in Obfelden ) was a Swiss painter , photographer , poet , musician and author .
Life
He completed an apprenticeship as a shoemaker in his parents' master shoemaker's shop in Zurich, where he worked until 1940. In 1931 he joined the Unterstrass Orchestra , and later he was a violinist in the Zurich Orchestra Society for 30 years with the conductor Marius Meng .
He received his first painting lessons between 1932 and 1934 with Willy Fries and between 1938 and 1940 with Otto Friedrich Emil Séquin in Zurich. From 1938 he used various graphic techniques, such as woodcut , lithography , etching , aquatint and worked as a freelance painter from 1940 .
In 1944 he married Heidi Opitz-Sturny in the Unterstrass Church in Zurich. Study visits to Paris and study trips to the Netherlands , Belgium , southern France , Italy , Spain and Morocco followed .
In 1949 he became a member of the Association for Original Graphics , from 1950 he began making natural stone mosaics and from 1951 he was a member of the Octogon artist group .
With the birth of daughter Elisabeth in 1953, his talent for photography developed. This led to the Master of the Leica award , as well as the publication of two photo books and several exhibitions.
In 1967 he joined the Rotary Club Knonaueramt . Between 1965 and 1970 he made the transition to pure abstraction . In 1982 Franz K. Opitz published his first volume of poetry, Hehre Gedichte , followed in 1997 by his work Der Gartenzwerg . He died on December 16, 1998 shortly after his 82nd birthday in his home in Obfelden .
Quotes
“Franz K. Opitz could look back on a long artistic path. He walked this path just as carefully as his works are composed. When he turned away from the object in favor of pure abstraction, it happened after a long maturation and he mastered the new style as if he had cultivated it all his life. The big leaps were not his thing, nor were yelling or propaganda . "( Hans A. Lüthy )
“Among art historians , Opitz is not considered an inventor . Rather, its strength lies in its quiet poetry and outstanding craftsmanship. ”( Martin Müller-Reinhart )
"Drawing and painting, playing the violin, taking photos, forging verses - such a dense artistic diversity can ultimately only develop in a harmonious person." (Albert Müller)
“He loves the silence, which allows him the highest concentration for his painting. This sensitive examination of his pictures characterizes his work. "(Prof. H. Hess )
Works
- Opitz, Franz K./Mohler, Hans: Fasnacht. Eighty photos by Franz K. Opitz. Foreword by Hans Mohler. Zurich: Orell Füssli Verlag 1963
- Opitz, Franz K .: Circus. Come in, gentlemen! Text by Jörn Kübler. Photographs by Franz K. Opitz [= a terra magica illustrated book]. Munich: Hanns Reich Verlag 1965
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Biography of Franz K. Opitz Photo Foundation Switzerland ( Memento of the original from August 31, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Opitz, Franz K. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Opitz, Franz Karl (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Swiss painter, photographer, poet, musician and author |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 5, 1916 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Zurich |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 16, 1998 |
| Place of death | Obfelden |