Life and Artistic Journey
Born in Essen, Germany, Walter Becker was a painter, ceramicist, and graphic artist. His early training included studies at the Kunstgewerbeschule Essen, where he focused on applied graphics, life drawing, and woodcarving. During his formative years, he also worked with ceramics for the Majolika Manufaktur Karlsruhe. His academic path led him to the Kunstakademie Dresden, where he was a master student in the sculpture class of Karl Albiker. In 1923, he married Yvonne von König, and the couple lived in Berlin before moving to Southern France in 1924. During their time in Cassis, Becker engaged with various notable figures, including André Derain and Georges Braque.
Becker's career saw him return to Germany in 1936, living in Munich, Utting, and Bühl before settling in Tutzing. He served as a professor at the Kunstakademie Karlsruhe from 1951 until 1958. In his later years, following the death of his wife in 1957, he spent time on Elba and eventually moved to a senior residence in Dießen. His later work was characterized by an abstracting style, particularly after his eyesight began to fail.
Artistic Style and Recognition
Becker's work is associated with the Verschollene Generation and Expressive Realism. His diverse output included:
Throughout his career, Becker received several honors, such as the 1. Kunstpreis der Stadt Hannover in 1931 and the 1. Preis der Internationalen Grafik-Gilde, Paris, in 1952. His works are held in various collections, including the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich and the Museum Folkwang in Essen.
Questions & Answers
Can I visit a virtual museum of Walter Becker's works?
Walter Becker's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.
How is Walter Becker's career divided into periods?
Walter Becker's career unfolds period by period on the artist's Chronicle page: a horizontal timeline of the artworks, grouped into career-period chapters.
How can I see every artwork made by Walter Becker?
Every work by Walter Becker on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
How can I follow Walter Becker's work year by year?
A timeline of Walter Becker's works exists: the artist's Artwork Timeline page orders the artworks by creation date.
