A Life of Abstract Expression
Rolf Cavael was a German painter, draftsman, and graphic artist. From his youth, he was fascinated by the forms of the plant and animal worlds and microscopy, though he sought to move beyond mere imitation of nature. He began his studies in 1924 at the Frankfurt Art School, focusing on typography and applied graphics. His early career included work as a commercial graphic designer and a teaching position at a vocational school.
In Berlin, Cavael became an abstract painter and maintained a correspondence with Wassily Kandinsky. His career faced significant challenges during the 1930s; his 1933 exhibition with Josef Albers in the Braunschweiger Schloss was closed by the National Socialists, and he was subsequently banned from exhibiting due to his abstract style. Following a period of imprisonment in Dachau and Stadelheim, he continued to paint in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Later Years and Recognition
After the war, Cavael worked for the American military government and operated a cinema in Garmisch. He was a founder of the group ZEN 49 in 1949 and participated in numerous exhibitions, including the 29th Venice Biennale. After moving to Munich in 1954, he taught at the Munich Volkshochschule until 1973.
Throughout his career, Cavael received several honors, including:
