Wolfram Aichele
Encyclopedia
Wolfram Aïchele - known as Wolfram - is an internationally acclaimed artist from Baden-Wurttemberg
in Southern Germany.
His work has been exhibited in America, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
His paintings have been acquired by the French state, the City of Paris, The Museum of the History and Art of Luxemburg, the State of Baden-Wurttemberg, the Federal Bank of Germany and Daimler-Benz, as well as many private collectors.
Son of the distinguished animal artist, Erwin Aichele
, Wolfram’s Third Reich childhood is the subject of a 2011 book by the author and historian Giles Milton
(who is also his son-in-law). It is called Wolfram: The Boy Who Went To War.
Wolfram’s work has been the subject of a number of critical studies, notably Franz Elgar’s Wolfram.
He is listed in Gérard Xuriguéra’s "Le dessin, le pastel, l’aquarelle dans l’Art Contemporain"
in Baden-Wurttemberg
. His father, Erwin Aichele, worked from a studio in the grounds of the house.
Wolfram developed an interest in folk art at an early age. He had a particular passion for the medieval Gothic art of southern Germany. Lucas Moser’s altarpiece in Tiefenbron, the sculptures of Tilman Riemenschneider
and the fortress architecture of Bad Wimpfen
and other Swabian towns and villages all influenced his early artwork.
At the age of 17, Wolfram decided to train as a sculptor and was accepted on a four-year woodcarving course at the Bavarian State Woodcarving School in Oberammergau
.
. Severe illness saw him transferred to a military hospital in Marienbad.
Once recuperated, he was sent to Normandy where he served as a communications officer in the German 77th Infantry Division.
He surrendered to American forces at the end of July, 1944 and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war, first in England and then in America.
The Bavarian State Woodcarving School was open in spirit: Wolfram discovered modern artists whose work had been banned under the Third Reich, notably Emil Nolde
, Paul Klee
and other artists of Der Blaue Reiter
(The Blue Rider).
Wolfram continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Art in Stuttgart, where his tutor was the sculptor Otto Baum. He became particularly interested in religious - and especially Byzantine - art.
In 1954, Wolfram embarked on an artistic pilgrimage to Serbia
, Kosovo
, Macedonia
and Mount Athos
. He drew particular inspiration from the medieval monasteries of Kosovo, particularly Gracanica Monastery
, Studenica Monastery
and Sopocani Monastery, as well as the Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos
.
On returning to Germany, he became increasingly interested in iconography. He painted icons using the traditional technique of egg tempera.
His aim was to return to the pure iconographical style represented by medieval masters such as Andrei Rublev
- a style that had been corrupted in the 19th century.
Among his works from this period is the iconostasis of the Russian Orthodox Church of St Mary Pokrov in Düsseldorf.
in 1956. He continued to paint icons but was increasingly drawing inspiration from elsewhere - Eastern European folk art, Persian miniatures and such modern artists as Paul Klee
, Wassily Kandinsky
and, above all, Marc Chagall
and the masters of Cubism
.
In the 1970s, Wolfram began to be represented by the celebrated Parisian gallery owner Jean-Louis Roque and his work became known to a wider public.
He was no longer painting icons: his preferred medium was now watercolour, through which he created his own highly idiosyncratic style.
The influence of folk art and iconographical techniques can be seen in many works from this period. Wolfram also drew inspiration from his visits to the Alps: the forms of these mountain ranges are often visible in his paintings.
In the late 1970s, Wolfram’s work metamorphosed into a unique blend of figurative art
and abstract art
. The figurate elements provide the key to unlocking the abstract, whereby the tensions in the composition suddenly reveal a landscape with its horizons and points of light.
Alongside his watercolours, Wolfram has also created different types of collage
from paper that he has painted and then torn. These collages have a tactile quality that is enhanced by the intensity of the colour.
He is represented by Galerie Capazza in Nancay, France.
A 2009 exhibition in Wolfram’s native Baden brought together works by eight artist members of the family.
. Wolfram lives in Paris.
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
in Southern Germany.
His work has been exhibited in America, Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
His paintings have been acquired by the French state, the City of Paris, The Museum of the History and Art of Luxemburg, the State of Baden-Wurttemberg, the Federal Bank of Germany and Daimler-Benz, as well as many private collectors.
Son of the distinguished animal artist, Erwin Aichele
Erwin Aichele
Erwin Aichele was a German painter and animal artist from Baden-Wurttemberg in Southern Germany.His life and work was the subject of a 1988 monograph, Der Tiermaler Erwin Aichele by Hans Schöner -Early years:...
, Wolfram’s Third Reich childhood is the subject of a 2011 book by the author and historian Giles Milton
Giles Milton
Giles Milton is a writer who specialises in the history of exploration. His books have been published in seventeen languages worldwide and are international best-sellers...
(who is also his son-in-law). It is called Wolfram: The Boy Who Went To War.
Wolfram’s work has been the subject of a number of critical studies, notably Franz Elgar’s Wolfram.
He is listed in Gérard Xuriguéra’s "Le dessin, le pastel, l’aquarelle dans l’Art Contemporain"
Early Years
Wolfram’s childhood was spent in the artists’ colony of Eutingen, near PforzheimPforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
in Baden-Wurttemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
. His father, Erwin Aichele, worked from a studio in the grounds of the house.
Wolfram developed an interest in folk art at an early age. He had a particular passion for the medieval Gothic art of southern Germany. Lucas Moser’s altarpiece in Tiefenbron, the sculptures of Tilman Riemenschneider
Tilman Riemenschneider
Tilman Riemenschneider was a German sculptor and woodcarver active in Würzburg from 1483. He was one of the most prolific and versatile sculptors of the transition period between late Gothic and Renaissance, a master in stone and limewood.- Biography :Tilman Riemenschneider was born between 1459...
and the fortress architecture of Bad Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen
Bad Wimpfen is an historic spa town in the district of Heilbronn in the Baden-Württemberg region of southern Germany. It lies north of the city of Heilbronn, on the river Neckar.-Geography:...
and other Swabian towns and villages all influenced his early artwork.
At the age of 17, Wolfram decided to train as a sculptor and was accepted on a four-year woodcarving course at the Bavarian State Woodcarving School in Oberammergau
Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The town is famous for its production of a Passion Play, its woodcarvers, and the NATO School.-Passion Play:...
.
War Years
In 1942 Wolfram’s studies were interrupted by the Second World War. He was conscripted into the German army and sent to the CrimeaCrimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. Severe illness saw him transferred to a military hospital in Marienbad.
Once recuperated, he was sent to Normandy where he served as a communications officer in the German 77th Infantry Division.
He surrendered to American forces at the end of July, 1944 and spent the next two years as a prisoner of war, first in England and then in America.
Studies and Influences
Wolfram returned to Oberammergau in 1946 and completed his sculpting course with distinction. One of his finest works, a processional church staff, is on display in the church of St Peter and St Paul in Oberammergau.The Bavarian State Woodcarving School was open in spirit: Wolfram discovered modern artists whose work had been banned under the Third Reich, notably Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde
Emil Nolde was a German painter and printmaker. He was one of the first Expressionists, a member of Die Brücke, and is considered to be one of the great oil painting and watercolour painters of the 20th century. He is known for his vigorous brushwork and expressive choice of colors...
, Paul Klee
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and is considered both a German and a Swiss painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism...
and other artists of Der Blaue Reiter
Der Blaue Reiter
Der Blaue Reiter was a group of artists from the Neue Künstlervereinigung München in Munich, Germany. The group was founded by a number of Russian emigrants, including Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, and native German artists, such as Franz Marc, August Macke and...
(The Blue Rider).
Wolfram continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Art in Stuttgart, where his tutor was the sculptor Otto Baum. He became particularly interested in religious - and especially Byzantine - art.
In 1954, Wolfram embarked on an artistic pilgrimage to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
and Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
. He drew particular inspiration from the medieval monasteries of Kosovo, particularly Gracanica Monastery
Gracanica monastery
Gračanica is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in Kosovo. It was founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321. Gračanica Monastery was declared Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1990, and it is protected by Republic of Serbia, and on 13 July 2006 it was placed on UNESCO's...
, Studenica Monastery
Studenica monastery
The Studenica monastery is a 12th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery situated 39 km southwest of Kraljevo, in central Serbia. It is one of the largest and richest Serb Orthodox monasteries....
and Sopocani Monastery, as well as the Byzantine treasures of Mount Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
.
On returning to Germany, he became increasingly interested in iconography. He painted icons using the traditional technique of egg tempera.
His aim was to return to the pure iconographical style represented by medieval masters such as Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev is considered to be the greatest medieval Russian painter of Orthodox icons and frescoes.-Biography:...
- a style that had been corrupted in the 19th century.
Among his works from this period is the iconostasis of the Russian Orthodox Church of St Mary Pokrov in Düsseldorf.
The Paris Years
Wolfram moved to ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1956. He continued to paint icons but was increasingly drawing inspiration from elsewhere - Eastern European folk art, Persian miniatures and such modern artists as Paul Klee
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and is considered both a German and a Swiss painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism...
, Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky was an influential Russian painter and art theorist. He is credited with painting the first purely-abstract works. Born in Moscow, Kandinsky spent his childhood in Odessa. He enrolled at the University of Moscow, studying law and economics...
and, above all, Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall
Marc Chagall Art critic Robert Hughes referred to Chagall as "the quintessential Jewish artist of the twentieth century."According to art historian Michael J...
and the masters of Cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
.
In the 1970s, Wolfram began to be represented by the celebrated Parisian gallery owner Jean-Louis Roque and his work became known to a wider public.
He was no longer painting icons: his preferred medium was now watercolour, through which he created his own highly idiosyncratic style.
The influence of folk art and iconographical techniques can be seen in many works from this period. Wolfram also drew inspiration from his visits to the Alps: the forms of these mountain ranges are often visible in his paintings.
In the late 1970s, Wolfram’s work metamorphosed into a unique blend of figurative art
Figurative art
Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork—particularly paintings and sculptures—which are clearly derived from real object sources, and are therefore by definition representational.-Definition:...
and abstract art
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
. The figurate elements provide the key to unlocking the abstract, whereby the tensions in the composition suddenly reveal a landscape with its horizons and points of light.
Alongside his watercolours, Wolfram has also created different types of collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
from paper that he has painted and then torn. These collages have a tactile quality that is enhanced by the intensity of the colour.
Recent Work
In recent years, Wolfram’s focus has been working in a smaller format, displaying particular interest in the interaction between figurative and abstract and shape and form, working with multiple horizons and shafts of light.He is represented by Galerie Capazza in Nancay, France.
A 2009 exhibition in Wolfram’s native Baden brought together works by eight artist members of the family.
Family Life
Wolfram married Barbara Rodi in 1964. They have two children, the jeweler Benedikt Aichele, and the artist and illustrator, Alexandra MiltonAlexandra Milton
Alexandra Milton is an artist and illustrator. She works primarily in collage.The artwork in her debut children’s book, Call Me Gorgeous, was nominated for the 2010 Kate Greenaway Medal....
. Wolfram lives in Paris.