The Life and Artistic Path of Eberhard Viegener
Born in Soest, Germany, Eberhard Viegener began his journey in the arts through a painting apprenticeship in his father's workshop. His early training included studies at the Folkwang-Museum in Hagen. Following his apprenticeship, he worked in a painting business and spent time as a painter in Zürich and as a self-taught artist in Klosters. By 1920, he had settled in Bilme, near Soest.
Viegener's career was marked by significant exhibitions and professional involvement. He was associated with the artist Alfred Flechtheim and participated in numerous exhibitions in cities such as Münster, Recklinghausen, Barmen, and Bochum. In 1934, he founded the Eberhard-Viegener-Gesellschaft in Dortmund. Later, in 1946, he co-founded the Westdeutscher Künstlerbund. His contributions to the art community were recognized through various honors, including being named a professor by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
As an expressionist and a representative of Neue Sachlichkeit, Viegener's body of work includes paintings, graphic art, and sculpture. His repertoire spans various subjects, from landscapes to portraits and figurative studies. Some of his documented works include:
His graphic work includes woodcuts such as The Moon over Soest and various series like Passion and Totentanz. While much of his expressionist work was categorized as "degenerate" by the National Socialist regime and subsequently confiscated, he continued to produce and exhibit his art throughout his life.
