Ernst Kreidolf
Portrait of a painter friend, 1912 (possibly of Ernst Kreidolf) by Fritz Voirol, a Swiss landscape painter
Born
Konrad Ernst Theophil Kreidolf

(1863-02-09)9 February 1863
Berne, Switzerland
Died12 August 1956(1956-08-12) (aged 93)
Berne, Switzerland
EducationLithographische Anstalt Schmidt-Pecht (1882)
Kunstgewerbeschule (1883-1885)
Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (1887 - discontinued)
Known forPainting
MovementJugendstil

Ernst Kreidolf or Konrad Ernst Theophil Kreidolf (9 February 1863 – 12 August 1956) was a Swiss painter largely known for illustrating children's books about flower fairies.

Early life and education

Konrad Ernst Theophil Kreidolf, the second eldest child of the Kreidolf family, was born on 9 February 1863 in Berne, Switzerland.[1]

The family relocated to Konstanz in Germany, where his father opened a toy shop. Ernst Kreidolf was raised by his grandparents in Tägerwilen, Switzerland. In Konstanz, he began an apprenticeship as a lithographer at the Lithographische Anstalt Schmidt-Pecht (Lithographic Institute JA Pecht) while simultaneously studying drawing. Following the completion of his apprenticeship, Kreidolf kept working for Schmidt-Pecht as an assistant in order to provide for his family following the bankruptcy of his parents' shop.[2]

In Munich, he attended the Kunstgewerbeschule. He supplemented his income by working as a lithographic draftsman. Beginning in 1885, he studied art at Paul Nauen's private art school. On his second application in 1887, the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München accepted Kreidolf as a student. He studied under Gabriel von Hackl and Ludwig von Löfftz.[2]

Career

He was a leading figure in the Jugendstil movement. His work as picture books demonstrates a high level of technical proficiency as well as exact botanical and zoological knowledge. Almost all of his illustrations include animals and plants given human characteristics.[3]

Kreidolf's work often features dogs in significant or prominent roles. The Dachshund belonging to Kreidolf's friend and author Leopold Weber, whom he met in Partkirchen, served as inspiration for a large number of quite varied sketches, watercolors, paintings, and a whole illustrated book.[2]

Death

Kreidolf died on 12 August 1956 in Berne.[1] He is interred in Bern's Schosshalden cemetery.


References

  1. 1 2 "Biography". Verein Ernst Kreidolf. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Butterflies' Ball and the Dogs' Party. Ernst Kreidolf and the Animals" (PDF). Museum of Fine Arts Bern. 21 June 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  3. ↑ Hunt, Peter (2004-08-02). International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature. Routledge. p. 1239. ISBN 978-1-134-43684-2.


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