Unregistered

Recently while clearing my late mother's house I came across this water colour painting of my dad dated 1946 and signed RUD HERRMANN. Does anyone have any information about this artist or point me to somewhere I could find out more?

http://www.ukag.co.uk/images/rh1.jpg

Close up of signature:
http://www.ukag.co.uk/images/rh2.jpg

Thanks.

Ray

mp.kunst

It could be Rudolf Herrmann

Name: Rudolf Herrmann,

School: Austria

date of birth: 1879
date of death: 1964

Qualification: cartonist

Unregistered

Many thanks for your reply, MP. Appreciated. In the meantime I have received an email with some more information which confirm your findings.

Rud Herrmann was apparently a Viennese political cartoonist, postcard designer and book illustrator. He worked for a publication called Das Neue Österreich.

My correspondent also sent a jpeg of a poster designed by Rud Herrmann for a Degenerate Art exhibition held in Chemnitz in 1939:

http://www.ukag.co.uk/images/rudherrmann.jpg

The signature on the poster seems to be the same as that on the painting of my dad. An original copy of this poster is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art:

http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/m...43104;type=101

Regards,

Ray

Unregistered

Hello Ray, how interesting to find the name Rudolf Herrmann on a Q & A posting. I curated an exhibit of R.H.'s caricatures at the University Art Museum, Binghamton University, Binghamton, N.Y. 1989.

After I saw the Los Angeles poster in LA, it was impossible to have an exhibit of his works at the Austrian Embassy, Washington, D.C. That one piece was a complete negation of years of his underground anti-Hitler works. He was a staunch communist, active in the Austrian Party. He moved to Berlin in 1929, drew for many communist publications, constantly changing his signature.

I had a grant to continue my research in Vienna, 1995, where I met people who had known him, visited his apartment where he had lived and much more.

I am afraid that there is not much of a market for his paintings, especially in this recession.

There is a valuable caricature of his at the Neue Galerie (museum) in New York City. You can see it on the net.

Hope that this info will be of interest,

Claire

Unregistered

Thank you for your reply, Claire. How very interesting! I am starting to become fascinated with the man who painted a picture of my dad. That Herrmann should be denigrated for that one poster is also very sad, I think. He no doubt had his reasons.

I have also been wondering why he would paint pictures of young conquering soldiers. I suspect the reason is quite simple. He was by then getting on in years and keeping body and soul together in post-war Germany was no mean feat. Principles are fine and dandy provided your belly is always full.

I found the caricature you refer to here.

Many thanks for that too.

Ray

Unregistered

Hello Ray, I am still collecting material about R.H. Do you have any information about how he knew your Dad ? Was your Father stationed in one of the post WW II zones in Vienna ? Did your Dad write letters home about the painting ? Would you like to communicate via email to protect your family's privacy ? I would be happy to send you an essay-poster from the R.H.exhibit.

Claire

Unregistered

Hi Claire,

I remember seeing the painting as a child but recall very little about it and have not discovered any correspondence while clearing the house. As far as I recall my father never went to Vienna. He was quite badly wounded during the war and spent many months in hospital. He was sent back to Germany after the war had ended but was stationed in northern Germany - mostly in Hamburg - where I assume the portrait was painted.

I've been thinking about the Entartete Kunst poster. It troubles me that an exhibition of his work was denied. As a known communist he is lucky to have survived at all. Among other groups communists, communist sympathisers and even their families were targeted and executed by the Nazis. He might have been compelled to do that work at gunpoint or as act of self-preservation.

Communication via email would be fine, Claire. How do I contact you?

Ray

Unregistered

I've figured out a way we can use email without either of us compromising email addresses. If you write to this temporary email address using your regular email I will pick it up and respond. This address has only a limited lifespan however. Don't send any attachments just yet as they are not forwarded....

art.7.benzoguy@spamgourmet.com

Ray

Unregistered

Hi Ray, I hope that you enjoy mysteries as much as I do for the plot thickens about Rud, Herrmann's life. (I really like all those early books about M5 and M6 as well).

When I was in Vienna, I learned much about R.H. which I will share with you via email. You have opened a new path of inquiry since no one who knew him made mention of his staying on in Germany, I found a copy of his hand written diary regarding his arrest in Berlin, his jail experience and how he got out. I have so much material (which I did not have at the time of the exhibit ) with a book in mind. The publishing field today pretty much rules that out but I will fashion it for a history journal. The Neue Gal. B and D dates are wrong--I did not have them in '89.

I have been working as a Developmental Editor, aiding serious non-fiction writers with their manuscripts. Rud. H. may intrigue us but not main stream publishing houses.

Following a wild guess, I too believe that he did that Deg, exhibit poster in order to survive. My radar points to a particular Nazi, close to Hitler, who came from Vienna. Since I do not plan to return to Vienna, I need some eyes on the ground there who can do some digging for me. I am a member of the American Historical Association which is international. When I am ready, I shall put the word out to Austrian colleagues.

Please write to me via "snail mail" to: Research Art, P.O. Box 21572, Sarasota, FL, 34276, USA. We can continue by email while protecting our personal privacy. However, I would keep your questions about R.H. out there; who knows what new info. might pop-up

Claire

Unregistered

I spoke to my brother yesterday, Claire, and asked if he had any memories. According to a conversation he had with my dad RH was working as a street artist in Hamburg in 1946. The requested payment was 400 cigarettes and some chocolate - scarce commodities in Germany at the time and valuable currency.

On a search I came across another RH portrait. This one, it seems, sold on ebay. There are some pics on this page.

I don't think there is much more I can add though will check back here from time to time. If you would like to contact me directly please use the email address in post #8 above. It will eventually become invalid... when the spambots get hold of it.

Ray

Unregistered

I have found a set of 46 advertisments cards with a beautiful printed picture and postage stamps.
These cards were produced for a perfumery and other productions firm.
The name of this firm was Rud. Herrmann. The firm was established during 1851.
Does anyone have a clue on these cards?



Thanks
Baruch Hans

Unregistered

I think RH the soap manufacturer, perfumer and founder of Rud. Herrmann AG Berlin wasn't related to the artist Rud Herrmann discussed above.

Ray

John

Yes, I believe "begr. 1851" means "founded 1851", which is before the artist was born (1879, per the second post in this thread).

Unregistered

I have just bought an etching in a Norwegian flea market. It is signed "Rudolf Herrmann 1922" and again "Rud. Herrmann Wien".
I would like to know if you have found any further information on Rud Herrmann since your last posts. Also I would appreciate it if someone had any information on the attached etching:
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/3374/478a.jpg

Thank you in advance!
GCM

tillergirl

YesI have a watercolour of my dad when he was a young soldier in the Army, dated 1947, very good watercolour really captured his essence. ............ my dad was in the army just after the war and I thought he said this gentleman was in one of the camps. ............. he paid for it with cigarettes and chocolates as well I seem to remember him telling us as children. it is signed Rud Herr Mann 1947

Unregistered

TO: GCM

The written signature at the bottom of your etching identifies the work of "our" Rud Herrmann, the subject of these postings. There is another artist who paints in a traditional style who has the same name.

R.H. lived in Vienna until 1929 when he moved to Berlin. Although he is most known for his political caricatures, he also worked in a traditional style, as exemplified by your charming piece.

Thank you for sharing your "find" with us.

Claire

Unregistered

Thank you for your reply, Claire.

I read in these postings that you curated an exhibition of R.H., and that you are continuing your research on him.
Do you know if it is possible to acquire a catalogue of the exhibition?

Did you publish anything yet, for example an article in a specialised review?
I would be very interested in learning more about R.H. and would be happy to buy your book when you publish it.
Do you have any suggestions on how I can remain updated on the developments of your research?

I am not a frequent user of electronic fora, therefore I am a bit unsure about what the "netiquette" says on giving e-mail addresses and the like.

Kind regards
GCM

Unregistered

TO: GCM

There is a poster essay for the R.H. exhibit, 1989 ( which was extended into 1990 by popular demand). If you will send your address to me, Claire, at:

P.O. Box # 21572
Sarasota, FL 34276
USA

I will try to find one for you.

Presently, I need to have more research done in Berlin, Chemnitz and now Hamburg. Originally, I had planned to go to Germany myself after my research in Vienna, however, the grant $ ran out. Other projects took up time, R.H. went into storage.

Ray's information about his painting of his Dad has spurred me on to reopen the research. I will have to find German colleagues to search out needed archival material,

Cheers, Claire

Unregistered

Please post an image of the signature on your painting to help us identify the artist.

Cheers, Claire