 |
Heinrich ZilleGerman artist, graphic artist and photographer
Date of Birth: 07.01.1858
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Heinrich Zille
Heinrich Zille, a German artist, graphic designer, and photographer, belonged to a group of Berlin artists who sought to depict the proletarian face of the capital of the German Empire by the beginning of the 20th century. Zille was born in Radeburg, Saxony, into a poor family. His father was a master in precision mechanics. Since 1867, Zille lived in Berlin, where he had to earn a living. In 1872, he studied lithography and also attended a drawing class at an evening school. From 1877 to 1907, Zille worked as a technical employee at the "Photographic Society". As a graphic designer, starting from 1900, he collaborated with newspapers such as "Jugend" (Youth), "Simplicissimus" and "Lustige Blätter" (Funny Pages). He passed away in 1929 in Berlin.
Zille's Art
Heinrich Zille belonged to a group of Berlin artists who sought to depict the proletarian face of the capital of the German Empire by the beginning of the 20th century. In his countless sketches and the drawings based on them, usually accompanied by brief dialogues, the artist depicted the lives of the poor, lumpenproletariat, workers, and unemployed in basement rooms, backyards, and dive bars of the eastern and northern districts of Berlin, between Pankow and Rummelsburg. His works evoked conflicting feelings among his contemporaries. He was called both the respected "Heinrich with the brush" (Pinselheinrich) and the offensive "Drawer of Abortions" (Abortzeichner). One visitor to a graphic exhibition at the Berlin Secession in 1901, in which Zille participated, commented on him: "This guy (Zille) kills the joy of life in everyone." At the same time, Zille's works even inspired theatrical productions. A vivid example of this is the play "Hofball bei Zille" (Court Ball at Zille's), staged in 1925 at the German Theater in Berlin.
