Hans Figura Vintage European Venice Italy Boats in a Harbor Scene Etching Aquatint Post War Austrian Framed Art
Hans Figura, an Austrian painter, and etcher born in 1898 and died in 1978 was widely recognized for his aquatint etchings depicting European and American landscapes, cityscapes, Tyrolean Alpine scenes, villages, chalets, street scenes, harbors, and marine scenes. In addition to etchings, he also painted landscapes, and cityscapes, and engaged in various artistic mediums such as batik, illustration, bookbinding, and leatherwork.
Figura was born on January 22, 1898, in Nagy-Kikinda, Hungary, near the Austro-Hungarian border, to Austrian parents. His father worked as a railway official, and Hans spent his early years in different small villages along the railway line between Vienna and Hungary. After residing in Bruck a der Leitha, a town on the Austrian-Hungarian border, for a period of time, the family moved back to Vienna when Hans was ten years old. He completed his education at the local high school and studied science courses at the local college. Hans also pursued artistic education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and attended the Higher Graphical Federal Education and Research Institute, a vocational school, for two years.
During World War I, Hans served as an officer in the Austrian Army from 1916 to 1918, serving on the Russian and Italian fronts. After the war, he initially pursued medical studies at the University of Vienna but eventually realized his passion lay in the arts. He took drawing and painting courses at the university and an adult education center. In 1922, after the death of his parents, Hans fully dedicated himself to painting and etching, while also exploring other artistic and printing mediums.
Between 1923 and 1928, Hans embarked on numerous art study trips throughout Europe, including Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, England, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. His artistic breakthrough came in 1924 when his etchings gained acclaim in Italy and the United States. Subsequently, he continued exhibiting his paintings and prints in various cities across Europe and the United States, with many of his works being acquired by museums and galleries.
Hans Figura had studios in both New York City and Vienna and maintained a fruitful career as an artist. He married Thea and had two daughters, Ericka Kelly, and Hedi Ottowitz. His artistic journey was featured in several magazines and publications, including The Studio and Apollo.
Notable exhibitions in which Hans participated include shows in Italy and the United States in 1924, ongoing exhibitions at the Kunstlerhaus in Vienna from the mid-1920s to 1939, the "Secession" exhibition in Vienna in 1926, and the Bromhead Art Gallery in London in 1927. He also exhibited his works in Austria, and Hungary, and had a posthumous solo memorial exhibition in 1988 at the Museum Villach, Austria.
During World War II, Hans served as an artillery officer, and his home and studio in Vienna were destroyed by bombing. This setback temporarily limited his artistic output, and he focused on creating oil paintings during this time. After the war, he settled in Villach, Austria, where he spent the remainder of his life. He continuously sought innovative methods to produce multi-colored etchings. Hans Figura passed away on February 17, 1978, and his remains were laid to rest in the Forest Cemetery in Villach.
Walter Meibohm, who worked closely with Hans Figura after World War II, maintained a friendship with him until the artist's death.
Aquatinting, a complex acid-based process similar to etching, was one of the techniques Hans employed in his artistic practice.
Contact Us:
pacificfineart@gmail.com
424-259-3290