Siegfried L. Kratochwil
Encyclopedia
Siegfried Leopold Kratochwil (March 24, 1916 – February 25, 2005) was an Austria
n painter and poet. Born in Karlstift, Lower Austria
he later moved to Vienna
and became one of the best-known Austrian Naïve art
ists by the end of the 20th century.
Kratochwil began helping his daughter with drawings and paintings, after she was born in 1941. It soon became apparent to him that painting made him happy. A passion for painting thus blossomed, one that would span almost 50 years, focusing primarily on Viennese motifs, which were, in turn, rooted in deeper themes of Austrian culture and history. Kratochwil also spent a significant amount of time writing poetry and etching copper engravings. Each of his paintings were usually accompanied by a poem.
Kratochwil had always considered Austria his home, which is why his country and his lifelong experiences there were so central to his artwork. He was buried in Vienna in 2005 at the age of 89.
The following museums contain some of Kratochwil’s artwork:
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n painter and poet. Born in Karlstift, Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
he later moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and became one of the best-known Austrian Naïve art
Naïve art
Naïve art is a classification of art that is often characterized by a childlike simplicity in its subject matter and technique. While many naïve artists appear, from their works, to have little or no formal art training, this is often not true...
ists by the end of the 20th century.
Background
Siegfried L. Kratochwil was born in the small logging village of Karlstift in Lower Austria. After enrolling in a trade school in Vienna, he became a technician and tool maker. The Second World War was a very hard time for Kratochwil and he was forced to try his hand at various professions. He married in 1939 and the initial years of marriage took place during the war. His ill health kept him from military duty.Kratochwil began helping his daughter with drawings and paintings, after she was born in 1941. It soon became apparent to him that painting made him happy. A passion for painting thus blossomed, one that would span almost 50 years, focusing primarily on Viennese motifs, which were, in turn, rooted in deeper themes of Austrian culture and history. Kratochwil also spent a significant amount of time writing poetry and etching copper engravings. Each of his paintings were usually accompanied by a poem.
Kratochwil had always considered Austria his home, which is why his country and his lifelong experiences there were so central to his artwork. He was buried in Vienna in 2005 at the age of 89.
Exhibitions and Museums
Aside from the many cities in Austria, his exhibitions have spanned the continents of Europe and North America. Much of his work is currently held in private collections and museums.The following museums contain some of Kratochwil’s artwork:
- Historical Museum of the City of Vienna, Austria http://www.wienmuseum.at/
- Clemens-Sels-Museum, Neuss, Germany http://www.clemens-sels-museum-neuss.de/cms/front_content.php
- Vestisches Museum, Recklinghausen, Germany http://www.kunst-re.de/7vm.html
- Museum for German Ethnic Studies, Berlin, Germany
- Museum Rade, Hamburg, Germany
- German Bread Museum, Ulm, Germany http://www.brotmuseum-ulm.de/
- Centraal MuseumCentraal MuseumThe Centraal Museum is a museum in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The museum was founded in 1838. Initially, the collection - exhibited on the top floor of the Utrecht townhall - was limited to art related to the city of Utrecht...
, Utrecht, Netherlands http://www.centraalmuseum.nl/ - Museum of Naïve Art L'ile de France, Paris, France
- Musée international d'Art naïf Anatole JakovskyMusée international d'Art naïf Anatole JakovskyThe Musée international d'Art naïf Anatole Jakovsky is a museum located in Nice, which displays 18-to-21st century works specialized in naive art...
, Nice, France http://www.cote.azur.fr/tourisme-musee-international-d-art-naif-anatole-jakovsky-nice-1970.htm - Lower Austrian Regional Museum, Vienna, Austria http://www.landesmuseum.net/
- Robert-Stolz Museum, Vienna, Austria
- Musée d'Art Naïf - Max FournyMusée d'Art Naïf - Max FournyThe Musée d'Art Naïf - Max Fourny, also known as the Musée d'Art Brut & Art Singulier, is a museum of naive art located in the Halle Saint-Pierre at 2, rue Ronsard, in the XVIIIe arrondissement of Paris, France. The closest métro stations are Anvers and Abbesses...
http://www.museums-of-paris.com/musee_en.php?code=340
External links
- Siegfried L. Kratochwil website
- Karstift Niederösterreich website
- Food News short artist biographies