Gerd Aretz

Gerd Aretz (born February 18, 1930 in Wuppertal ; † July 5, 2009 ) was a German graphic artist. With around 150 stamps based on his designs, he was one of the most successful stamp designers in Germany.

Life

In addition to other tasks, Aretz took part in design competitions for postage stamps of the German Federal Post Office and the Federal Ministry of Finance since 1960 . Aretz's first drafts were printed as postage stamps back in the 1960s. The 10-pfennig postage stamp published on the 150th birthday of Bishop Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler of Mainz , member of the Frankfurt National Assembly and co-founder of Catholic social policy, was his first. Among other things, he also signed the postage stamp series “ Women of German History ”, which with 39 stamps reached billions in circulation. Church personalities and politicians remained Aretz's specialty, including Martin Niemöller , Jochen Klepper and Friedrich von Bodelschwingh the Younger . His politician portraits include Franz Josef Strauss , Ludwig Erhard , Kurt Georg Kiesinger , Ernst Reuter , Carlo Schmid and Herbert Wehner .

In 1982 the “Presidential Block” designed by Aretz appeared with the Federal Presidents Theodor Heuss , Heinrich Lübke , Gustav Heinemann , Walter Scheel and Karl Carstens . Her successors Richard von Weizsäcker , Roman Herzog and Johannes Rau had refused to appear on postage stamps during their lifetime. After Raus's death, the Federal Ministry of Finance issued a rush order to submit a draft of a commemorative stamp within 72 hours ; Together with his son, Aretz managed to complete this order on time.

Until he retired, he taught design and illustration at the University of Wuppertal . His son Oliver Aretz is a designer in Berlin and runs an agency, and has worked with his father on several postage stamps since 1991.

Aretz died in July 2009 and was buried in the Unterbarmer cemetery . His last work was published on July 2, three days before his death, a 70-cent special stamp for the 500th birthday of the reformer Johannes Calvin .

Web links

Commons : Gerd Aretz - collection of images, videos and audio files

Stefan Melneczuk : Gerd Aretz: A life dedicated to brands . Westdeutsche Zeitung , January 6, 2003
Michael Kroemer: 40 years of postage stamp design: A large Aretz exhibition in the university library will also offer a gripping walk through German history. Bergische Universität Wuppertal, May 4, 2000, accessed on July 9, 2016 .
Maren Wagner: Professor Gerd Aretz has died . Press office of the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, July 16, 2009

Individual evidence

^ Postage stamp designer Gerd Aretz has died . Westdeutsche Zeitung , July 15, 2009, accessed on July 9, 2016.
↑ Professor Gerd Aretz has died. Press office of the Bergische Universität Wuppertal , July 15, 2009, archived from the original on October 10, 2011 ; Retrieved July 9, 2016 . Stefan Melneczuk : Gerd Aretz: A life dedicated to brands. Westdeutsche Zeitung , July 15, 2009, archived from the original on August 30, 2009 ; Retrieved July 9, 2016 .
^ Commemorative stamp for the 500th birthday of Johannes Calvin . epd message on the website of the Evangelical Church in Germany , June 26, 2009, accessed on July 9, 2016.

personal data
SURNAME	Aretz, Gerd
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German graphic artist
DATE OF BIRTH	February 18, 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH	Wuppertal
DATE OF DEATH	July 5, 2009
Place of death	Wuppertal

[1] Postage stamp designer Gerd Aretz has died . Westdeutsche Zeitung , July 15, 2009, accessed on July 9, 2016.

[2] Professor Gerd Aretz has died. Press office of the Bergische Universität Wuppertal , July 15, 2009, archived from the original on October 10, 2011 ; Retrieved July 9, 2016 . Stefan Melneczuk : Gerd Aretz: A life dedicated to brands. Westdeutsche Zeitung , July 15, 2009, archived from the original on August 30, 2009 ; Retrieved July 9, 2016 .

[3] Commemorative stamp for the 500th birthday of Johannes Calvin . epd message on the website of the Evangelical Church in Germany , June 26, 2009, accessed on July 9, 2016.