Will Grohmann (born 4 December 1887 in Bautzen; died 6 May 1968 in Berlin) was a German art critic and art historian specialized in German Expressionism and abstract art. He was known as the "godfather of modernism".[1]
From 1908 to 1913 Grohmann studied oriental languages with special emphasis on Sanskrit at the universities of Paris and Leipzig. Though he wrote his PhD thesis in Germanic literature, entitled Vers oder Prosa im hohen Drama des achtzehnten Jahrhunderts (1914), and taught languages at school, where Erich Kästner was one of his pupils, he devoted his life to art research and publishing. He was interested in the painters of Die Brücke and supported the Bauhaus. After the First World War, he wrote many entries for the Thieme-Becker and articles for the periodical Der Cicerone. He also published books on his friend, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. He was also a friend of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Otto Dix, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and Oskar Schlemmer.[2]
From 1926 to 1933 Grohmann worked at the Staatliche Gemäldegalerie, Dresden. In 1933 he was dismissed by the Nazis because he had an all too positive view of modern art. However, he continued publishing articles for newspapers under the pseudonym of Olaf Rydberg. During the Second World War, he researched the safer fields of archaeology and the art of migratory people.[3]
From 1945 to 1947 he was professor and rector at the Hochschule für Werkkunst, Leipzig. In 1947 he moved to West Berlin because of political differences, becoming a professor at the Academy of Arts, Berlin in 1948. Until his death, he continued championing abstract artists, including such post-war artists as Willi Baumeister, Rupprecht Geiger, Theodor Werner and Fritz Winter.
Grohmann published over 500 essays on more than 150 artists, among them Edvard Munch, Ernst Barlach, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, and about 1,300 newspaper articles, not to mention his many catalogue forewords. In the 1950s and 60s, he was also one of the most influential German art critics to appear on radio and television.[4] Furthermore, he was engaged in curating important exhibitions and "played a significant role in drawing international attention to the avant-garde".[5]
Referencesedit
^Goethe Institut: "In the Network of Modernism": The Art Critic Will Grohmann
^Lieber Freund, Künstler schreiben an Will Grohmann. Eine Sammlung von Briefen aus fünf Jahrzehnten, edited by Karl Gutbrod, Cologne: DuMont Dokumente, 1968.
^Goethe Institut: "In the Network of Modernism": The Art Critic Will Grohmann
^Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden: In the Network of Modernism
Select publicationsedit
The Drawings of Paul Klee. New York: C. Valentin, 1944
The Intimate Sketchbooks of Georges Braque. Paris: Verve, A. Zwemmer, 1955
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer, 1956
Art Since 1945. New York: H. N. Abrams, 1958
Wassily Kandinsky: Life and Work. New York: H. N. Abrams, 1958
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer 1958
Braque. Greenwich, CN: New York Graphic Society, 1962
Oskar Schlemmer: Zeichnungen und Graphik. Oeuvrekatalog. Stuttgart: Hatje, 1965
Willi Baumeister: Life and Work. New York: H. N. Abrams 1966
Wassily Kandinsky: Eine Begegnung aus dem Jahre 1924. Berlin: Friedenauer Presse, 1966
Paul Klee. New York: H.N. Abrams 1967
Further readingedit
New York Times, May 8, 1968, p. 47 (obituary)
In Memoriam Will Grohmann 1887-1968 - Wegbereiter der Moderne, Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, 1988
Lieber Freund, Künstler schreiben an Will Grohmann. Eine Sammlung von Briefen aus fünf Jahrzehnten, edited by Karl Gutbrod, Cologne: DuMont Dokumente, 1968
External linksedit
Dictionary of Art Historians: Will Grohmann
Goethe Institut: "In the Network of Modernism": The Art Critic Will Grohmann
Staatsgalerie Stuttgart: Will Grohmann - Pioneer of Modernism
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden: In the Network of Modernism
January 01, 1970
will, grohmann, born, december, 1887, bautzen, died, 1968, berlin, german, critic, historian, specialized, german, expressionism, abstract, known, godfather, modernism, born, 1887, december, 1887bautzen, german, empiredied6, 1968, 1968, aged, west, berlin, wes. Will Grohmann born 4 December 1887 in Bautzen died 6 May 1968 in Berlin was a German art critic and art historian specialized in German Expressionism and abstract art He was known as the godfather of modernism 1 Will GrohmannBorn 1887 12 04 4 December 1887Bautzen German EmpireDied6 May 1968 1968 05 06 aged 80 West Berlin West GermanyNationalityGermanOccupation s Art critic and historian Contents 1 Life and work 2 References 3 Select publications 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife and work editFrom 1908 to 1913 Grohmann studied oriental languages with special emphasis on Sanskrit at the universities of Paris and Leipzig Though he wrote his PhD thesis in Germanic literature entitled Vers oder Prosa im hohen Drama des achtzehnten Jahrhunderts 1914 and taught languages at school where Erich Kastner was one of his pupils he devoted his life to art research and publishing He was interested in the painters of Die Brucke and supported the Bauhaus After the First World War he wrote many entries for the Thieme Becker and articles for the periodical Der Cicerone He also published books on his friend Ernst Ludwig Kirchner He was also a friend of Karl Schmidt Rottluff Otto Dix Paul Klee Wassily Kandinsky and Oskar Schlemmer 2 From 1926 to 1933 Grohmann worked at the Staatliche Gemaldegalerie Dresden In 1933 he was dismissed by the Nazis because he had an all too positive view of modern art However he continued publishing articles for newspapers under the pseudonym of Olaf Rydberg During the Second World War he researched the safer fields of archaeology and the art of migratory people 3 From 1945 to 1947 he was professor and rector at the Hochschule fur Werkkunst Leipzig In 1947 he moved to West Berlin because of political differences becoming a professor at the Academy of Arts Berlin in 1948 Until his death he continued championing abstract artists including such post war artists as Willi Baumeister Rupprecht Geiger Theodor Werner and Fritz Winter Grohmann published over 500 essays on more than 150 artists among them Edvard Munch Ernst Barlach Henri Matisse Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro and about 1 300 newspaper articles not to mention his many catalogue forewords In the 1950s and 60s he was also one of the most influential German art critics to appear on radio and television 4 Furthermore he was engaged in curating important exhibitions and played a significant role in drawing international attention to the avant garde 5 References edit Goethe Institut In the Network of Modernism The Art Critic Will Grohmann Lieber Freund Kunstler schreiben an Will Grohmann Eine Sammlung von Briefen aus funf Jahrzehnten edited by Karl Gutbrod Cologne DuMont Dokumente 1968 Dictionary of Art Historians Will Grohmann Goethe Institut In the Network of Modernism The Art Critic Will Grohmann Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden In the Network of ModernismSelect publications editThe Drawings of Paul Klee New York C Valentin 1944 The Intimate Sketchbooks of Georges Braque Paris Verve A Zwemmer 1955 Karl Schmidt Rottluff Stuttgart W Kohlhammer 1956 Art Since 1945 New York H N Abrams 1958 Wassily Kandinsky Life and Work New York H N Abrams 1958 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner Stuttgart W Kohlhammer 1958 Braque Greenwich CN New York Graphic Society 1962 Oskar Schlemmer Zeichnungen und Graphik Oeuvrekatalog Stuttgart Hatje 1965 Willi Baumeister Life and Work New York H N Abrams 1966 Wassily Kandinsky Eine Begegnung aus dem Jahre 1924 Berlin Friedenauer Presse 1966 Paul Klee New York H N Abrams 1967Further reading editNew York Times May 8 1968 p 47 obituary In Memoriam Will Grohmann 1887 1968 Wegbereiter der Moderne Staatsgalerie Stuttgart 1988 Lieber Freund Kunstler schreiben an Will Grohmann Eine Sammlung von Briefen aus funf Jahrzehnten edited by Karl Gutbrod Cologne DuMont Dokumente 1968External links editDictionary of Art Historians Will Grohmann Goethe Institut In the Network of Modernism The Art Critic Will Grohmann Staatsgalerie Stuttgart Will Grohmann Pioneer of Modernism Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden In the Network of Modernism Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Grohmann amp oldid 1203178461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
