Alexander Max Koester (10 February 1864, Bergneustadt - 21 December 1932, Munich) was a German landscape and animal painter. He specialized in scenes with ducks.
His father was a hosiery manufacturer. In 1882, following his parents' wishes, he began an apprenticeship at a pharmacy in Winzenheim (now in France). After completing his training there, he pursued his own interests; enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts, Karlsruhe, where he studied with Karl Hoff and Claus Meyer [de]. As a student, he supported himself by painting portraits, but he later focused on landscapes.
He spent the decade from 1885 to 1895 making study trips: to the Black Forest, the Vosges, Munich, and Tyrolia.[1] While visiting the town of Klausen, a gathering place for artists, he met Isabella Kantioler, the daughter of an innkeeper. They were married in 1893.[1] After completing his studies, in 1896, they settled in Klausen. He had first became interested in ducks while observing a colony of them that belonged to his father-in-law. In addition to painting them, he studied their anatomy and behavior.
Alexander Koester, Ducks in a Pond, early 20th century. Oil on canvas. Private collection.
He soon became an expert on duck breeds and breeding.[1] His portraits of them became very popular. It was said that he charged for his works according to the number of ducks in the picture. One of them was acquired by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900.[2] The art school in Darmstadt offered him a position, but he declined, preferring to work free-lance. To gain better access to his buyers, he rented a studio in Munich, where he worked during the summer. He also became a member of the artist's cooperative there. In 1902, he won a small gold medal at the Große Berliner Kunstausstellung; and another at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904.
In 1915, Klausen was declared to be part of a war zone, and his house was confiscated. He moved to Dießen am Ammersee and set up a new studio. His son had been killed not long after the war started.[1] After that, he focused on landscapes and still-lifes, but never lost his interest in ducks. Most of his works outside of private collections are held at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.
Feeding the Geese
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Koester, Alexander", biography @ the Kunsthaus Bühler
alexander, koester, alexander, koester, february, 1864, bergneustadt, december, 1932, munich, german, landscape, animal, painter, specialized, scenes, with, ducks, self, portrait, date, unknown, contents, life, work, references, further, reading, external, lin. Alexander Max Koester 10 February 1864 Bergneustadt 21 December 1932 Munich was a German landscape and animal painter He specialized in scenes with ducks Self portrait date unknown Contents 1 Life and work 2 References 3 Further reading 4 External linksLife and work edit nbsp Seven Ducks at the Ditch His father was a hosiery manufacturer In 1882 following his parents wishes he began an apprenticeship at a pharmacy in Winzenheim now in France After completing his training there he pursued his own interests enrolling at the Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe where he studied with Karl Hoff and Claus Meyer de As a student he supported himself by painting portraits but he later focused on landscapes He spent the decade from 1885 to 1895 making study trips to the Black Forest the Vosges Munich and Tyrolia 1 While visiting the town of Klausen a gathering place for artists he met Isabella Kantioler the daughter of an innkeeper They were married in 1893 1 After completing his studies in 1896 they settled in Klausen He had first became interested in ducks while observing a colony of them that belonged to his father in law In addition to painting them he studied their anatomy and behavior nbsp Alexander Koester Ducks in a Pond early 20th century Oil on canvas Private collection He soon became an expert on duck breeds and breeding 1 His portraits of them became very popular It was said that he charged for his works according to the number of ducks in the picture One of them was acquired by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1900 2 The art school in Darmstadt offered him a position but he declined preferring to work free lance To gain better access to his buyers he rented a studio in Munich where he worked during the summer He also became a member of the artist s cooperative there In 1902 he won a small gold medal at the Grosse Berliner Kunstausstellung and another at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 In 1915 Klausen was declared to be part of a war zone and his house was confiscated He moved to Diessen am Ammersee and set up a new studio His son had been killed not long after the war started 1 After that he focused on landscapes and still lifes but never lost his interest in ducks Most of his works outside of private collections are held at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich nbsp Feeding the GeeseReferences edit a b c d Koester Alexander biography the Kunsthaus Buhler Alexander Koester biography LempertzFurther reading editRuth Stein Hans Koester Alexander Koester 1864 1932 Leben und Werk Bongers Recklinghausen 1988 ISBN 3 7647 0399 7 Alexander Koester Werke aus der Schenkung Else Eckhard Exhibition catalog Neue Pinakothek Hirmer Munich 1985 ISBN 3 7774 3990 8External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alexander Koester Biography the Koester Foundation More works by Koester ArtNet Literature by and about Alexander Koester in the German National Library catalogue Biography and works The World Artist Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Koester amp oldid 1214636369, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
