Hermann Struck: a German-Jewish etcher
I've just discovered that the house of Hermann Struck in Haifa has this October been turned into the Hermann Struck Museum, with an opening exhibition of his etchings. I'm thrilled to think this brilliant and influential etcher is at last getting his due. So I thought I would share the Hermann Struck etchings I have. Struck was born in Berlin in 1876. His birth name was Chaim Aaron ben David, and his Jewish heritage is central to his work - most of the original works below have Hebrew inscriptions or Stars of David incised in the plate in drypoint. An early Zionist, Hermann Struck settled in Palestine, in what is now Haifa, Israel, in December 1922. All of my works date from before this time (although I give the date of his portrait of Chagall as 1923, that is the date of publication, and presumably the actual work was made in or around 1922). Evidently Struck had an active life as artist, mentor, and teacher in Israel, but I don't have any direct evidence of this to show.
Hermann Struck studied at the Berlin Academy, and learned etching under Hans Meyer. Like many other accomplished etchers, he etched plates after the work of others as well as his own originals.
Hermann Struck died in Haifa in 1944. In his lifetime Hermann Struck was highly respected as an etcher, and taught the craft to other artists, including Marc Chagall, Max Liebermann, and Lovis Corinth. His important book on the art of etching Die kunst des radierens went through several editions, each illustrated with original prints.
Hermann Struck, Portr�t eines alten Mannes
Etching, 1901
Hermann Struck, Canal Grande
Etching, 1903
Hermann Struck, Bildnis R.B.
Etching, 1905
Does anyone know who R.B. was?
Hermann Struck, Alte Jude aus Jaffa
Etching, 1905
The sitter is Struck's father
(I believe probably the same subject as Portr�t eines alten Mannes)
Hermann Struck, Marc Chagall
Etching, published 1923
(probably 1922)
Hermann Struck after Olof Jernberg, Zur Erntezeit
Etching, 1901
Hermann Struck after Max Liebermann, Bildnis des Baron Berger
Etching, 1906