Hans Prasch

Hans Prasch, 1995

Hans Prasch (born June 7, 1925 in Bad Orb ; † October 26, 1999 ibid) was a German sculptor , winner of the 1985 Main-Kinzig District Culture Prize and an honorary citizen of Bad Orb.

Life, family

Hans Prasch was born as the fifth of five children to a farmer and forest worker in Bad Orb. "The Prasch family has been based in Orb for centuries." And lived in very modest circumstances. Hans Prasch attended elementary and secondary school in Bad Orb. Even in his early youth he noticed his inclination to work with wood and his talent for wood carving, which gave him a lot of joy.

After his school days in Bad Orb, an apprenticeship as a carpenter followed. Then he attended the state college for wood and ivory carving in Erbach im Odenwald . His training was interrupted when he was called up for military service in 1943 . Shortly before the end of the war, he was seriously wounded. From 1947 he attended the Werkkunstschule in Offenbach, today's college of design . Since 1948 he was a freelance sculptor.

Hans Prasch was married and had two children. He died on October 26, 1999 in Bad Orb. Prasch was a member of the Federal Association of Visual Artists , the Simplicius Artists' Association (since 1954) and the Orber Secession.

Artistic creation

Familiar with wood as a material from childhood, Hans Prasch later also worked with bronze , lead and stone . He preferred sculptures , reliefs and a combination of both types of representation. They are characteristic, especially for his larger works (Jubiläumsbrunnen, Sälzer). His teachers included the painter and friend Magnus Manz, with whom he designed many joint exhibitions.

One of the first exhibitions of his works was together with his friend, the painter Peter Mann, in the White Hall of the former Kurhaus Bad Orb. "Themes and characters from his homeland were his chosen motifs throughout his life"; Examples include Peter von Orb , Jubiläumsbrunnen , Sälzer or Schubkärrnschercher . They are "works of unobtrusive beauty and clarity that express the love for his homeland and the region".

Hans Prasch: Crier

In the early days it was mainly individual people whom he breathed artistically into life, but over time more and more groups of people caught his attention. “These works are designed in such a way that they can be viewed from all sides and thus represent a large number of scenes,” said Prasch. Characterized "by high artistic and craftsmanship", his works are characterized "by a serene cheerfulness and reflective charisma". It shows "the profound humor" or "love of detail and subtle humor" that is inherent in his characters and scenes. This becomes particularly clear with the high attendance , the tug of war (three girls compete against five boys and the viewer has to think about the rope) or the wheelbarrow shear (a man pushes, visibly strained, a wheelbarrow heavily loaded with three wine barrels, on which he is on top happy boy sitting).

Because he lived and worked in Bad Orb, a health resort that was much visited and prospering from the 1960s to the mid-1990s, Hans Prasch's works quickly spread throughout Germany. The exhibitions of his works did the rest. In addition to those at home, here are examples of the exhibitions in a representative setting, also mentioned abroad:

• Salzburg, May 8th to May 30th, 1960: Galerie Mirabell-Casino (together with 6 other artists from the Frankfurt area)
• Wiesbaden, April 11 to April 23, 1967: Fountain Colonnade, (represented by 5 of his sculptures)
• Hanau, May 6 to May 21, 1967: Rathaus-Foyer, (represented with one work in earthenware and one bronze sculpture each);
• Giessen, May 1988: Gallery, (here he was certified as having "exuberant vitality" for his bronze work Rasselbande ).

Honors and aftermath

In 1985 Hans Prasch received the Main-Kinzig-Kreis culture award . His hometown Bad Orb granted him honorary citizenship of the city on May 8, 1999, six months before his death . This was a recognition of his work and thanks for his numerous foundations.

In Bad Orb, several works by Hans Prasch shape the image of the city. A total of 20 of his works can be found there. He donated some of this work to the city or the church. His ongoing presence in the city through his works is reflected in the positive press echo on the 20th anniversary of his death.

Prasch's works can also be found beyond Bad Orb, for example in Aufenau , Gelnhausen , Lettgenbrunn , Rothenbergen , Rüsselsheim , Schlüchtern and Wiesbaden (see list of works).

Opus

Hans Prasch: Peter von Orb and his fox

Hans Prasch: Museum visitors , bronze

• Tug of war. Am Salinenplatz, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Peter of Orb. In front of the Volksbank, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Salzer. At the entrance to Bad Orb Castle (bronze).
• Crier. Am Salinenplatz, Bad Orb (bronze).
• High visit. In front of Martinskirche , Bad Orb (bronze).
• Harmonica player. In front of the concert hall, Bad Orb (artificial stone).
• Crucifix. On the Molkenberg , Bad Orb (wood).
• Schubkärnschercher. In front of the museum, Gelnhausen (bronze).
• Jubilee fountain. Am Solplatz, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Crib. In the Michaelskirche, Bad Orb (wood).
• Cat and mouse. Am Pumpchen, Heppengasse, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Sculpture. At the grave of Hans Prasch, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Relief and door handles. At the old town hall, Bad Orb (aluminum).
• Well drain with boys. "Spital Born", on the wall, Bad Orb (bronze)
• Fountain spout Ross Born. Am Obertor, Bad Orb (bronze).
• Penguins at the fountain. Concert hall, Bad Orb (artificial stone).
• Partial relief. At the Toscana Therme, Bad Orb (artificial stone).
• Life-size nude. Town hall, Bad Orb (lead).
• Moses. Evangelical Church Aufenau (wood).
• Madonna. Catholic Christ the King Church, Rothenbergen (wood).
• James. St. Jakobus Church , Lettgenbrunn (wood).
• Children making music. Heinrich Hehrmann School, Schlüchtern (bronze).
• The mourners. Cemetery, Rüsselsheim (artificial stone).
• Sitting girl. In the entrance area of ​​the nursing home, Wiesbaden (lead).
• Flute player. Kita Rüsselsheim (bronze)
• Rascals. (Bronze)
• Little Bear. (Bronze)
• Old woman, dragging two naughty children behind her. (Bronze)
• The money changer. (Bronze)
• Museum visitors. (Bronze)

literature

• The original Gelnhäuser as a fountain figure. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, August 22, 1990.
• Orber birthday party with a young swing: Brunnen is reminiscent of eventful history. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, June 15, 1987.
• Memories of Hans Prasch. In: Bad Orber Blättche, No. 354, October 17, 2009.
• The fountain on Solplatz - symbol for 150 years of the Orb spa. In: Kurzeitung , anniversary edition, 1987.
• Hans Prasch. In: Frankfurter Rundschau , May 11, 1999.
• The notice. In: Die Stadtschelle, No. 26/1988. Bad Orb, July 1, 1988.
• Peter von Orb and Hans Prasch. , Christiane Müller-Urban, Eberhard Urban : In: Frankfurter Neue Presse, November 15, 2008.
• From the hard bread of being a free artist. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, October 24, 1985.
• The tug of war as a symbol of cooperation. In: Gelnhäuser Neue Zeitung, September 27, 1995.
• Orber, honorary citizen of the city and culture award winner of the Main-Kinzig district. In: Bad Orber Blättche, June 6, 2015. online
• Honorary citizenship for sculptor Hans Prasch. In: News from the spa town of Bad Orb, April 22, 2002.
• Festschrift 60 years of the artist association Simplicius Hanau. Historical Museum Hanau , Philippsruhe Palace, October 9 - November 4, 2012.
• The Schubkärnschercher comes. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, July 27, 1990.
• On Saturday: High honor for Rieger and Prasch. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, May 10, 1999, p. 13.
• The anniversary fountain on Solplatz. In: On the fountain festival on June 13, 1987. Magistrate of the city of Bad Orb.
• Consecrations for Prasch and Rieger. In: Bad Orber Anzeiger, May 10, 1999.
• The little pump. In: Bad Orber Anzeiger, June 15, 1990.
• Important visit with Auxiliary Bishop Kapp. In: Gelnhäuser Tageblatt, November 23, 1999.
• Escorted through Holy Week and Easter days. In: Catholic parish Bad Orb im Spessart: Order of worship from 22nd to 28th Nov. 1999.
• Prasch donates sculpture to Bad Orb. In: Gelnhäuser Tageblatt, September 26, 1995.
• Merging bodies, clay, golden wings, islands. , Elisabeth Ziegler: In: Gelnhäuser Tageblatt, September 24, 1991.
• Dreams and views that have come into being, Gießener Allgemeine, May 30, 1988
• The animal in art , City of Hanau, poster for the exhibition in the town hall foyer, May 6-21, 1967
• Seven Frankfurt artists , Salzburger Volksblatt, May 13, 1960
• Seven Frankfurt artists in Salzburg , Salzburger Volkszeitung, May 10, 1960
• Spirit and soul make up people - art exhibition wants to give joy in life , Wiesbadener Kurier, April 12, 1967

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The anniversary fountain on Solplatz. For the fountain festival on June 13, 1987. City Council of Bad Orb.
2. ^ Festschrift 60 years of the Simplicius Hanau Artists' Union. Historical Museum Hanau, Philippsruhe Palace, October 9, 2012– November 4, 2012
3. ↑ Elsbeth Ziegler: Merging bodies, clay, golden wings, islands. In: Gelnhäuser Tageblatt, September 24, 1991
4. ↑ Honorary citizenship for sculptor Hans Prasch. News from the spa town of Bad Orb, April 22, 2002
5. ↑ Hans Prasch. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, May 11, 1999.
6. ↑ Honorary citizenship for sculptor Hans Prasch. In: News from the spa town of Bad Orb, April 22, 2002.
7. ↑ Honorary citizenship for sculptor Hans Prasch. In: News from the spa town of Bad Orb, April 22, 2002.
8. ↑ Honorary citizenship for sculptor Hans Prasch. In: News from the spa town of Bad Orb, April 22, 2002.
9. ↑ On Saturday: High honor for Rieger and Prasch. In: Kinzigtal Nachrichten, May 10, 1999, p. 13.
10. ↑ Gießener Allgemeine, May 30, 1988 “Dreams and Views that have come into shape” May 11, 1999
11. ↑ Hans Prasch on the website of the Culture Prize of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis
12. ↑ Hans Prasch. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, May 11, 1999
13. ↑ Elsbeth Ziegler, GNZ, October 26, 2019 and February 25, 2020, " Sensitive and at the same time strong in expression "

Web links

• Local family book Bad Orb, Hans Prasch
• Culture Prize Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hans Prasch
• Elsbeth Ziegler, GNZ, October 26, 2019 and February 25, 2020, " Sensitive and at the same time strong in expression "