Heinrich Vogeler Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Heinrich Vogeler   he was born on 12/12/1872 in Bremen. His father was a hardware wholesaler and Heinrich Vogeler was the second of seven children. Read the full biography

Heinrich Vogeler Biography

Heinrich Vogeler   he was born on 12/12/1872 in Bremen. His father was a hardware wholesaler and Heinrich Vogeler was the second of seven children.

His passion for art led him to the Academy of Fine Arts in Dusseldorf, where he studied from 1890 to 1895 focusing on painting and decoration. His years of study were not entirely carefree. He rejected teaching methods and often came into conflict with professors, which is why he was forced to interrupt his studies. During this period he joined an association of student artists called "Tartarus". It was here that he received the nickname that would accompany him throughout his life: "Mines".

His father passed away prematurely and this allowed Heinrich Vogeler to lead an artistic life without problems. He traveled a lot: Bruges, Dresden, Florence, Ceylan. In 1894, he visits his fellow artists in Worpswede (Osterholz district municipality in Lower Saxony). With the painters Fritz Mackensen, Hans the end, Otto Modersohn, Fritz Overbeck and Carl Vinnen, he founded the "Artist Association Worpswede" in 1895. Their works were exhibited at the annual exhibition of artworks of all nations at the Munich Glass Palace, where they caused a sensation. During this period, he worked on Pre-Raphaelite Art Nouveau. He prefers dark colors and biblical themes. During this period his best-known work "Summer Evening" was created.

His house in Worpswede became a meeting point for left-wing intellectuals. Even before the First World War, Vogeler appreciated social reformist commitment and organized a campaign for the interests of the working class.

Vogeler was also known for his drawings of romantic craftsmanship and for his book illustrations: Oskar Wilde's "Pomegranate House" and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. From 1899, Vogeler drew illustrations for the newspaper "Die Insel" in Munich.

In 1908, Vogeler founded the "Worpsweder Werkstätte" for furniture construction together with his brother Franz. Meanwhile, he is experiencing an artistic crisis. His works were not much appreciated by the public. He also wanted to emigrate, but the outbreak of war in 1914 thwarted his plans and he enlisted as a war volunteer. From 1915 to 1917 he was employed in south-eastern and eastern Europe, where he worked as a military painter. After serving, Vogeler traveled several times to the Soviet Union where he learned the communist and socialist way of life and philosophy. Vogeler worked as a traveling painter on behalf of Soviet agencies. He supported the construction of true socialism and was involved in anti-fascist projects.

His painting style developed throughout his life under various influences: from Art Nouveau to Expressionism to the political and realistic motivations of his last years.

The German Wehrmacht's invasion of the Soviet Union led to the deportation of many German emigrants. In 1941 he was forcibly deported to Karaganda (Kazakhstan). In exile, the artist suffers from serious health problems and extreme difficulties. On 14 June 1941 he died exhausted and suffering in hospital.