Otto Robert von Grünewaldt

Otto Robert Moritz von Grünewaldt , known as Moritz von Grünewaldt (born February 5, 1870 in Aahof , Riga district , Estonia ; † February 17, 1933 in Munich ), was a German-Baltic graphic artist , painter and chemical engineer . He is known as an ex-libris artist and as a wood and linocut artist.

Live and act

Otto Robert Moritz attended the 1st State High School in Riga and studied chemistry at the University of Dorpat from 1890 to 1891 . Further engineering courses followed in Berlin-Charlottenburg and Munich . Afterwards he was employed as a cultural ringer in the regional culture office in Riga. In 1906 he went to Hamburg for two years and was temporarily artistic director of a factory for bronze goods and lighting fixtures. It was not until 1900 that Grünewaldts discovered painting for himself . In his foreword to "MoGruenewaldt Original Graphics" Richard Braungart writes :

“ Gruenewaldt's favorite models are the animals, especially those of the forest (foxes, hares, deer, etc.) and especially birds, native and exotic, and it is sometimes the strange shape of such creatures that appeals to him, sometimes the funny colorfulness of the plumage. Of course, wood and linoleum cuts are best suited for such purposes, and you may also find that the sheets of the Gruenewaldts, which owe their creation to the ideal combination of these techniques with the above-mentioned motifs, are the best in the artist's graphic work to date are. But this is not intended to deprive his landscapes, even the etched ones, of their actual value. And in this context it deserves to be mentioned that Moritz von Gruenewaldt made his mark not only in free but also in applied graphics. There are all sorts of odd jobs and a considerable number of good bookplates of his that are not luxury sheets but real book marks and stand out for their useful clarity, conciseness and excellent decorative posture. All in all: the likeable artist, who turned 50 in February, has more than sufficient evidence that you can be an engineer (or whatever) and still be a serious artist of respectable grades. And the fact that his graphics have slowly asserted themselves in the huge competition that has been continuously active in this field for years, proves more than anything that could be said in their favor that their value has become inviolable today. Incidentally, Moritz von Gruenewaldt's Latin is far from over. After what has been done so far, this should be beyond doubt. We expect the very best from him. "

- Richard Braungart

Origin and family

Family coat of arms of the von Grünewaldts

Otto Robert came from the German-Baltic noble family von Grünewaldt . His father was the district director Johann Georg Alexander (* 1832), who was married to Sophie Margarethe von Anrep (* 1837). Otto Robert Moritz married Lilian Mabel Adams (* 1869 in Dublin ) in London in 1899 , their descendants were:

• Jane Marian von Grünewaldt (* 1900 in Riga)
• Ethel Maggi (* 1903 in Lindenberg, Livonia )
• Axel Hans Wolter von Grünewaldt (* 1907 in Hamburg)

Works (selection)

• Gruenewaldt, Moritz von (1870–1933), Ex Libris Arthur Wolf. Wolf and Zweig as Remarque. Published: undated, Etching, Witte, Bibliographie 3, 246; Gutenberg 3565 - monogrammed in print [3]
• Moritz von Gruenewaldt (around 1900). Bookplate for Otto von Gruenewaldt. The hunched-over poet Homer, playing the lyre. Etching, monogr. "MG", around 1900 [4]
• Moritz von Gruenewaldt (around 1900). Bookplate for A. Finke. A finch sitting on a footbridge under a cherry branch with books underneath. Linocut in three colors on Japan, inscribed in pencil. and sign. "3 color linocut MvGruenewaldt", around 1900 [5]
• Moritz von Grünewaldt, winter landscape [6]
• Moritz von Gruenewaldt, The Kingfisher, color linocut, 1913, on Japan [7]

literature

• MoGruenewaldt Originalgraphik, Ostbuchhandlung and Verlag Georg Neuner, 1925, Berlin, introduction by Richard Braungart [8]
• Georges Wrangell: Genealogy of the family von Grünewaldt . Reval 1913 ( digital copy [PDF; 33 MByte] at the University of Tartu , hdl: 10062/25989 ).
• Gruenewaldt . In: Genealogical Handbook of the Baltic Knighthoods: Part of Estonia . tape II . Publishing house for kin research and heraldry CU Starke, Görlitz 1930, p. 45–57 ( digitized at the Munich digitization center ).

Web links

• Baltic Historical Commission (Ed.): Entry on Otto Robert Moritz von Gruenewaldt. In: BBLD - Baltic Biographical Lexicon digital
• Otto Robert Moritz von Gruenewaldt (1870 born Estonia - 1933 died Münich)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Gruenewaldt, Moritz von (German graphic artist / ex-libris artist). Entry in Signum Exlibris Shop [1]
2. ↑ Gruenewaldt, Moritz von (1870-1933) attid1 = 2 & search value1 = Gruenewaldt,% 20Moritz% 20von% 20 (1870-1933) & search op2 = OR & search attid2 = 3 & search value2 = Gruenewaldt,% 20Moritz% 20von% 20 (1870-1933)  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ MoGruenewaldt original prints, Ostbuchhandlung and Publishing Georg Neuner, 1925, Berlin, introduction by Richard Braungart [2]