The Life of Franz Bronstert
Franz Bronstert was a German engineer and painter. Born in Dorsten to Bernhard Bronstert, a teacher for arts and music, and Luise, he completed the superior school for engineers in Hagen before World War I. During the war, he served as a Lieutenant and later as a Rittmeister. While a prisoner of war in Ripon, Yorkshire, he began his artistic work after meeting artists Fritz Fuhrken and Georg Philipp Wörlen. This connection led to the foundation of the artist group Der Fels.
After the war, Bronstert settled in Hagen. His artistic development moved from radical expressionism in the early twenties to a realistic phase, and finally to what he described as a reformed impressionism. He found most of his motifs in nature. While he mastered techniques such as oil painting, drawing, and woodcut, he loved watercolour painting most.
Career and Legacy
Though an accomplished artist, Bronstert worked as an engineer to support his family, eventually becoming a member of the board of VARTA with several international patents. He did not seek to market himself due to the lack of financial success in art. Following his retirement, he concentrated solely on his art again.
His works are held in various collections, including:
- Schneider Collection, Museum Baden, Solingen
- Karl Ernst Osthaus-Museum in Hagen
- Museum Schloss Moyland
- Von der Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal
- Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich
- Art museums of Soest, Germany, Iserlohn, and Lüdenscheid
