Hans Mau (artist)

Hans Friedrich Robert Mau (born October 18, 1915 in Leipzig ; † February 17, 1989 there ) was a German graphic artist , painter , caricaturist and book illustrator .

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Mau was born the son of the locksmith Hans Mau and his wife Helene Mau and attended a primary school in his hometown between 1922 and 1930. This was followed by training as a reproduction photographer until 1934 ; at the same time Mau attended the technical and vocational school and from 1932 evening courses at the art academy. In 1934 he passed his journeyman's examination and then worked as a journeyman in Leipzig, Reichenbach and Erfurt until 1937 . From 1937 Mau served in the Luftwaffe picture offices in Berlin , Oslo , Rovaniemi ( Finland ) and Alakurtti , most recently in 1945 with the rank of sergeant . 1945 came Mau in American captivity , from a year later in Hanau was dismissed, whereupon he resumed his occupation as a reproduction photographer and next to 1947 the character class of the Adult Education Center at Walter coin visited, and, together with his teacher, changed schools and the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig went to the further development of his artistic education. In 1948 Mau became a member of the SED and a year later was admitted to training at the district party school. In 1948 Mau enrolled as a full student at the College of Graphics and Book Art, where he a. a. Took lessons from Egon Pruggmayer and Max Schwimmer , who also taught artists such as Bernhard Heisig , Werner Tübke and Günter Horlbeck . This training lasted until 1952; from 1949 to 1951 Mau held an assistant position at Schwimmer. In 1952 Mau left the college with a diploma with distinction.

Private life

In 1941 Mau married in Berlin; the marriage resulted in a son.

Memberships

Since 1930 Mau was a member of the socialist youth workers and the trade union . In that year he became a member of the German Labor Front . In 1946 he joined the Association of Visual Artists of the GDR , of which he was a member of the central board from 1953 to 1959. Between 1966 and 1978 Mau was the chairman of the district audit committee of the said association.

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After completing his extensive training, Mau began working as an artist in Leipzig in 1952, mainly devoting himself to the illustration of works of fiction , children's and young people's books, and who worked on a youth magazine. Books designed by Mau have also been translated into Bulgaria , Hungary , Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany . In 1952 Mau was commissioned to illustrate volume 311 of the Insel-Bücherei ; it was the book Die Hirtenflöte, published in Leipzig , a story by Wolfgang Joho .

Exhibitions

Mau was invited six times between 1949 and 1978 to present his works at the German Art Exhibition in Dresden. In addition, Mau was with his works in exhibitions in East Berlin (1951 and 1953), Budapest and Sofia (1955), Munich and Halle / Saale (1956), West Berlin (1956), Karlsruhe (1957), and Moscow , Munich and Hamburg (1958) represented. In 1959, 1965 and 1966 his works were shown at the International Book Art Exhibition in Leipzig and Brno . In 1975 he took part in the children's book exhibition in East Berlin and enriched the exhibition German literature from Lessing to Heine in the fine arts of the GDR , which was shown in Weimar in 1977, with exhibits. As a sought-after artist for book illustration in the GDR, he also took part in the major exhibition Die Buchillustration in der DDR 1949–1979 in East Berlin.

Awards

The books illustrated by Mau were awarded the title "Most Beautiful Book" several times, for example in 1955, 1974 and 1976. In 1958, Mau received the second prize for illustrators , awarded by the Ministry of Culture . In 1955 he received the GDR's Most Beautiful Books award for the book The Strange Adventures of Marco Polo (text Willi Meinck ), which was published in 1955 by the Berlin children's book publisher. The Museum of the National Research and Memorial Centers for Classical German Literature in Weimar bought works by Mau. In 1969 Mau was awarded the Medal for Excellent Achievement , 1970 the title Activist of Socialist Work and 1970 and 1979 the Medal of Merit of the GDR .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Even to the artist, source: Saxon State Archives, State Archives Leipzig, 21765 Cultural Association of the GDR, Leipzig district headquarters, No. 1056/2..
2. ↑ ^{a b c} Internet site for graphics lovers
3. ^ Wikisource / Inselbücherei