Alfons Walde
Alfons Walde (8 February 1891 - 11 December 1958), an Austrian from Kitzbuhel
in the Tyrol, was the first artist to successfully bring skiing as a subject
into painting. These sporting scenes together with his winter landscapes
and farming images, rendered in a unique tempera style with impastose
colouring, complemented his other artistic gifts as both an architect
and graphic artist. Many of his paintings can be seen in the Museum gallery
in Kitzbuhel.
Alfons Walde produced his first watercolour and tempera paintings during
his schooldays. From 1910 to 1914 Walde studied architecture at the Technische
Hochshule in Vienna. At the same time he continued his education as a
painter, In the Danubian metropolis he moved in artistic circles that
included Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, and he became influenced by Ferdinand
Hodler.
In 1911 Walde had his first exhibition in Innsbruck; and in 1913 presented
four farm pictures at the prestigious Vienna Secession exhibition. From
1914 to 1917 he actively participated in World War I as a Tyrolean Kaiserchutze
in the high mountains. After returning to Kitzbuhl, he fully devoted himself
to painting and participated again in exhibitions of the Secession and
the Wiener Kunstlerhaus throughout the 1920s.
By around 1928 Walde had finally found his own characteristic style,
one that gave expression to both the Tyrolean mountain scenery - particularly
the living winter landscapes - and its robust people through the use of
highly reduced drawings and pastel colouring. Throughout the rest of his
artistic career his work stayed with the subject of his homeland, and
retained the same distinct native style.
The impressionistic, momentary feelings conjured up by Walde's paintings
gave them a unique and characteristic place in international art history.
This was reflected in the many exhibitions of his work, his entries to
painting and architecture competitions, and the awards he received. Alfons
Wade died on 11 December 1958 in Kitzbuhl.
Alfons Walde. (2007, January 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Retrieved 09:51, February 2, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfons_Walde&oldid=101421891
|