- Johnny Friedlaender
Johnny Friedlaender (December 26, 1912 – June 18, 1992) was a leading 20th century artist, whose works have been exhibited in
Germany ,France ,Netherlands ,Italy ,Japan and theUnited States . He has been influential upon other notable artists, who were students in hisParis gallery. His preferred medium ofaquatint etching is a technically difficult artistic process, of which Friedlaender has been a pioneer.Early years
Gotthard Johnny Friedlaender was born in Pless (Pszczyna),
Prussian Silesia , as the son of apharmacist . He was graduated from the Breslau (Wrocław) high school in 1922 and then attended the Academy of Arts (Akademie der Bildenden Kunste) in Breslau, where he studied underOtto Mueller . He graduated from the Academy as a master student in 1928. In 1930 he moved toDresden where he held exhibitions at the J. Sandel Gallery and at the Dresden Art Museum. He was inBerlin for part of 1933, and then journeyed toParis . After two years in aNazi concentration camp , he emigrated toCzechoslovakia , where he settled inOstrava , where he held the first one man show of his etchings.Re-entry to Paris
In 1936 Friedlaender journeyed to Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Austria, France and Belgium. At the Hague he held a successful exhibition of etchings and watercolours. He fled to Paris in 1937 as a political refugee of the Nazi regime with his young wife, who was an actress. In that year he held an exhibition of his etchings which included the works: "L ‘Equipe" and "Matieres et Formes". From 1939 to 1943 he was interned in a series of concentration camps, but survived against poor odds.
After freedom in 1944 Friedlaender began a series of twelve etchings entitled "Images du Malheur" with Sagile as his publisher. In the same year he received a commission to illustrate four books by
Freres Tharaud of theFrench Academy . In 1945 he performed work for several newspapers including "Cavalcade" and "Carrefour". In the year 1947 he produced the work "Reves Cosmiques" and in that same year he became a member of the Salon de Mai, which position he held until 1969. In the year 1948 he began a friendship with the painterNicolas de Stael and held his first exhibition inCopenhagen at Galerie Birch. The following year he showed for the first time in Galerie La Hune in Paris. After living in Paris for 13 years, Friedlaender became a French citizen in 1950.Friedlaender expanded his geographic scope in 1951 and exhibited in
Tokyo in a modern art show. In the same year he was a participant in the XI Trienale in Milan, Italy. By 1953 he had produced works for a one man show at the Museum ofNeuchatel and exhibited at the Galerie Moers inAmsterdam , the II Camino Gallery inRome , inSão Paulo ,Brazil and in Paris. He was a participant of the French Italian Art Conference inTurin , Italy that same year.International recognition
Friedlaender accepted an international art award in 1957, becoming the recipient of the Biennial Kakamura Prize in Tokyo. In 1959 he received a teaching post awarded by
UNESCO at the Museum of Modern Art inRio de Janeiro . By 1968 Friedlaender was travelling toPuerto Rico ,New York andWashington D.C. to hold exhibitions. That year he also purchased a home in theBurgundy region of France. 1971 was another year of diverse international travel including shows inBern ,Milan ,Paris ,Krefeld and again New York. In the latter city he exhibited paintings at theFar Gallery , a venue becoming well known for its patronage of important twentieth century artists.From his
atelier in Paris Friedlaender instructed younger artists who themselves went on to become noteworthy, among themArthur Luiz Piza .Brigitte Coudrain .Rene Carcan ,Graciela Rodo Boulanger . Like Friedlaender, these students were expert in the lithographic and etching arts.1978 brought a retrospective of Friedlaender’s works at the Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. He was awarded the Lovis Corinth Prize in
Regensburg three years later. On his 75th birthday, Friedlaender was given a retrospective in theBremen Art Museum. On his 80th birthday he held a retrospective exhibition inBonn at the municipal council offices. Friedlaender died in Paris at the age of 89.elected works
* "Enigme" handsigned edition of 150 (1991)
* "Jeux", handsigned edition of 150
* "Sonnette für Orpheus", handsigned edition of 135
* "Radierungen 1949-1989: Eine Auswahl", colour album published by Peerlings GalleryBibliography
* Rolf Schmücking, "Friedländer: 100 Radierungen", Verlag Galerie Schmücking,
Basel , 1983External links
* [http://www.grafik-markt.de/Friedlaender.html Eine etwas ausführlichere Biografie des Künstlers]
* [http://www.galeriebirch.dk Galerie Birch in Copenhagen]
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