Krüger, Albert (Venus)

Albert Krüger

(1858 - around, but before 1910)

Venus

After the painting “Birth of Venus” by Botticelli

AK

Woodblock printed from 6 blocks for Pan editions 1898

Incredible but true: you are looking at one and the same print (.. x .. cm) but with different lighting. Using gold paint for her hair the artist was able to achieve this extraordinary effect. Although it is not rare (probably 600-1200 must have been printed) it is not often seen offered. This special feature and effect I have not found described anywhere. And believe me: it is stunning.

Not much is known about the life of Albert Krüger. Although his biography was neglected to this day I am convinced his craftsmanship and influence on the development of German woodblock printmaking must be compared and has been of the same magnitude as French artist August Lepère to French graphic art.

Read more about Albert Krüger and details concerning his artistic legacy in his short biography in Volume II of Das Haus der Frau.

The most beautiful woman in Florence, Simonetta Vespucci-Cattaneo (1453-1476) modelled for Sandro Botticelli (1455-1510). She was the wife of Marco Vespucci who was nephew to discoverer Amerigo Vespucci who gave his name to a continent: AMERICA. She was also the muse of Guiliano di Piero de’ Medici (1453-1478) and died tragically young, just 22, of tuberculosis. Guiliano died by the hand of a murderer two years later.

Krüger’s print is reminding of the use of gold in paintings like “Der Kuss” (1907-08) and “Danae” by Gustav Klimt.

Who can tell he wasn’t influenced by Krüger’s Pan print published only a few years before ?

Albert (Aelbrecht) Krüger

(Stettin -Szczecin 06-07-1858 - 1905/7-10 ?)

Painter, graphic artist and printmaker. Little is known about the life of this very important graphic artists. He probably was as important to the early development of woodblock printmaking in Germany as was August Lepère (1849-1918) to France.

Studied 1876-81 at Berlin “Kunstakademie”, student of Jewish engraver and etcher Louis Jacoby (1828-1918) who had been a student of Eduard Mandel (1810-1882) in Berlin. Jacob was professor of engraving at Vienna academy and in 1882 was called to Berlin as adviser on art to the imperial printing-office.

Known as “Kupferstecher” and for his refined colour woodblock prints after Old Master paintings, portraits of contemporary Germans and after paintings by Max Liebermann.

Travels to South Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, France and Italy. From 1892 teacher at the academy in Berlin and from 1907 appointed professor.

Exhibited extensively 1883-1910 winning a gold medal in Berlin 1891, München 1892, Antwerpen 1894 and Dresden 1899. Member “Berliner Akademie” since 1903, living in 1912 in Belgard (Pommern).

Lived around 1900 Berlin Brücken-allee 4 (in the Tiergarten district)

Some known works:

Portrait woodblock of Swedish painter Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901) (after his self-portrait).

Portraits woodblock after Leonardo Da Vinci (Mona Lisa, young woman portrait).

Portrait woodblock after Hans Holbein (Desiderius Erasmus, Rotterdam).

Portrait etching) of industrialist Friedrich Alfred Krupp (1854-1902) after Ludwig Noster (1896).

Portrait etching Fritz Borstell (1834-1896) (bookseller and editor).

Portrait etching Karl Voerster ((1826-1899) bookseller and editor).

Portrait etching Bildnis einem jungen Mannes, after Alfred Dürer (Gesellschaft für Verfielvaltigemde Kunst Wien).

Portrait etching “Hexe von Haarlem” after Frans Hals (Gesellschaft für Verfielvaltigemde Kunst Wien).

Portrait etching “Männliches Bildnis” after Quentin Massys. Gesellschaft für Verfielvaltigemde Kunst Wien).

Etching “Am Strand von Goehren (Rügen) 1894”, pier and beached fishing boat. For E.A. Seeman Verlag Leipzig, printed by F.A. Brockhaus.

For PAN editions:

1896    Monochrome woodblock after a painting by Max Liebermann.

1896     Two tone colour woodblock, portrait of Swiss historian and critic Jacob Burckhardt (1818-1897).

1898    Colour woodblock birth of Venus after Sandro Botticelli.

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Krüger, Albert Sigfried (Östraby, Schonen - 1965 Sweden)

Well known and respected Swedish landscape painters and graphic artist.

See: Krüger, Erna (not related Wittenberg painter and printmaker).

See: Pan.