W Gdanietz (1893-1962) - De Spinster

1893

Wilhelm Gdanietz is born on January 21, 1893 in Mainz, Germany.

1895

At the age of two he becomes deaf after a bout of scarlet fever. This handicap determines his later youth, but does not prevent him from pursuing an artist’s career.

1902–1908

Attends the Deaf School (Taubstummenanstalt) in Osnabrück, where his drawing talent further develops.

1911–1918

Studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy. He was taught by, among others, Claus Meyer, Eduard von Gebhardt and Wilhelm (Willy) Spatz. In addition, he worked in the master studio of Franz Kiederich.

1918–ca. 1927

Makes study trips to the Alps, South Tyrol and Austria. His early paintings mainly show mountain landscapes and rural scenes.

1920

Has an exhibition at the museum of the Dürerbund in Osnabrück, one of his first major public presentations.

1927

Settles in Volendam (Netherlands), where he opens a studio. He becomes fascinated by traditional fishing life, the costume and the characteristic interiors. These subjects become his trademark.

1930

Due to changes around the closure of the Zuiderzee and the disappearance of the old fishing life, he leaves Volendam and returns to Düsseldorf. He nevertheless continues to paint almost exclusively Dutch subjects and even outfits his home as a Volendam fishing house.

1939–1944

Participates annually in the Große Deutsche Kunstausstellung in Munich. In this period, several of his paintings were purchased by prominent figures from the Nazi regime. This marks a historically loaded chapter in his career.

1945–1969

Continues to work in Düsseldorf. He mainly painted genre scenes, fishermen, interiors and portraits in a traditional, realistic style, largely based on his memories of Volendam. His body of work grows to more than 1,000 paintings.

1969

Died in Düsseldorf.

2009

His work was included in the exhibition “Gehörlose Künstler im Dritten Reich,” which also drew attention to his remarkable life story as a deaf artist.

Characteristics of his work

* Worked in a realistic, traditional style, inspired by the Dutch masters of the 17th century.
* Famous for his genre scenes of daily life in Volendam.
* Painted many fishermen, women in traditional costumes, domestic interiors and portraits.
* His paintings are characterized by a warm light, meticulously worked details and a nostalgic atmosphere.
* Although he lived in Germany again after 1930, the Netherlands — and especially Volendam — remained his main source of inspiration.

Spieraam 30 x 40 cm
Lijst 39 x 49 cm

Mooi geheel in goede staat, lijst heeft uiteraard kleine sporen van leeftijd, bekijkt u de foto’s, deze maken deel uit van de omschrijving.

Wordt u goed verpakt en aangetekend/ verzekerd toegezonden.
Uiteraard bent u welkom het werk op afspraak af te halen.