About Hans Orlowski

Hans Otto Orlowski, 1894–1967, graphic artist, teacher at Städtische Kunstgewerbe- und Handwerkerschule Berlin-Charlottenburg.

Hans Orlowski was the son of a master tailor, who moved his family from Insterburg, in East Prussia to nearby Königsburg, then to Potsdam, then finally to the Charlottenburg neighborhood in Berlin. In 1911, Orlowski began studies at the Städtische Kunstgewerbe- und Handwerkerschule Berlin-Charlottenburg, but World War I intervened. He was wounded in Serbia early on and thereafter worked as a draftsman in the War Ministry. Returning to his studies in Charlottenburg at the end of the war, he began teaching there in 1921 and was named professor in 1931. The school building, as well as Orlowski’s workshop, apartment and much of his work, was bombed out during the Second World War. After 1945 Orlowski taught at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste and was director of the department of applied arts. Concerning his own work, he was strict and self-critical,¹os, Mit der Kraft der Phantasie, Preußische Allgemeine but he remained prodigiously creative—he is said to have worked in the last hours before his death²Osman, Silke, “…wenn Schönheit Verstnd bekommt, Das Ostpreußenblat. Hamburg, February 25, 1989, p. 7.” —painting in oil, tempera and mixed media, while, of course, continuing to produce wood cuts. He illustrated over 120 books, later favoring classics like, Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor (1953), Schiller’s Kassandra (1959) and Orpheus and Eurydice (1961) and The Psalms (1961).

On August 3, 1962, David wrote to publisher Wolfgang Tiessen seeking to purchase Orlowski’s Psalter and asking about the 68-year-old artist. An exchange of letters followed, with Tiessen going so far as to contact Orlowski on David’s behalf. On August 16th, Tiessen wrote:

Heute kam auch ein Brief von Herrn Prof. Orlowski, der gerade in Urlaub am Luganer See ist, und zwar bis Anfang Oktober, (Adress: Carnago bei Lugano, Schweiz; Pension Deserto).

Er schreibt: “…Meines ehemaligen Schülers Ismar David erinnere ich mich noch sehr deutlich als einen sehr sympathischen und begabten Menschen. Es wird mich immer freuen, Nachricht von ihm zu erhalten.“³Letter from Wolfgang Tiessen to Ismar David, August 16, 1962. Ismar David papers, box 1, folder 5, Cary Graphic Arts Collection, RIT.

Today a letter from Prof. Orlowski, who is just now vacationing on Lake Lugano until the beginning of October, arrived. (Address: Carnago at Lugano, Switzerland, Pension Deserto).

He writes: “I still remember my former student Ismar David very distinctly as a very congenial and gifted person. I would be delighted to hear from him any time.”

David travelled in Europe in the summer of 1963. In an undated draft, written on stationery from the Seehotel zur Ueberfahrt/Egern, an impressive hotel on the shore of the Tegernsee, David recalls the devotion that Orlowski demonstrated towards his students:

Sehr geehrter Professor Orlovski [sic]

Vor vielen Jahren war ich einer Ihrer Schüler (1928-1931)
Während ich nicht annehme einen tiefen Eindruck bei Ihnen hinterlassen zu haben, habe ich durch all die Jahre nicht ver meiner Studienzeit, in der Sie der Mittelpunk waren nicht vergessen. Ich entsinne mich noch deutlich Ihrer Hingabe zu den Problemen des Lehrens und der Schüler. Auch hatte ich vor einiger Zeit Gelegenheit etwas von Ihren späteren Arbeiten zu sehen, und Das Buch of Psalter Buch mit Ihren Holzschnitten hat mich sehr beeindruc hat mich sehr beeindruckt und gabe einer R und wurde bei einigen meiner Kollegen denen ich es zeigte sehr bewundert. Sollten Sie für mich etwas Zeit finden würde ich Sie gerne während meines kurzen Aufenthaltes in Berlin besuc sp sehen. Ich werde f vom zwischen dem 15. und 18. dieses Monates in Berlin sein und Sie anrufen.

Mit besten Grüssen
Ihr. I

Dear Professor Orlowski

Many years ago, I was one of your students (1928-1931)
While I don’t imagine I made a deep impression on you, I have not forgotten, through the years, the period of my studies. I can still remember clearly your dedication to the problems of teaching and of the students. Also, I had the opportunity some time ago to see your later work. The Book of Psalms with your woodcuts impressed me very much and some of my colleagues, to whom I showed it, admired it very much. If you could find some time for me, I would very much like to see you during my short stay in Berlin. I’ll be in Berlin between the 15th and 18th of this month and will call you.

Best regards
Your I