Horst Janssen, German printmaker (Born on 14th November 1929, Hamburg - Died on 31st August 1995, Oldenburg). Horst Janssen's mother was dressmaker Martha Janssen from Oldenburg. He never knew his father. He was brought up in Oldenburg by his mother and grandparents in Lerchenstraße 14. His grandfather had adopted him. In 1939 after the death of his grandfather Janssen was adopted by the Guardianship Court. In 1943 his mother died. Earlier, in 1942, he became a student at the Nationalpolitischen Erziehungsanstalt (Napola - National Political Education Institute) in Haselünne , Emsland, where art teacher Hans Wienhausen encouraged his artistic talent. In 1944 he moved in Hamburg following the adoption by his mother’s younger sister Anna Janssen, who lived in that city. He spent the end of the war and the post-war period with his Aunt Anna in Burchardstraße, later they moved to Warburgstraße (Harvestehude). In 1946 Janssen was enrolled at the Landeskunstschule (Regional Art School) in Hamburg at 16 years of age. There from the beginning he became a master pupil of Alfred Mahlau First publication of a drawing in the weekly journal "Die Zeit " in 1947, followed next year with the publication of his first book, the children’s book "Der Wettlauf zwischen dem Hasen und dem Igel". In 1950 his first child, son Clemens, was born, and there was a publication of his second book, "The race between the hare and the hedgehog". Janssen produced his first woodcuts, influenced by Edvard Munch. Dominant themes were animals along with man and woman. In 1952 he received Lichtwark scholarship in Hamburg; at around the same time he involuntarily leaves the Landeskunstschule. Next year he was detained after a drunk braul and tried for a suspected murder. Janssen finally received a suspended sentence for drunkenness. His whole life was marked by the numerous marriages, outspoken opinions, alcoholism, and selfless dedication to the art of printmaking. In 1954 he took up lithography and in 1955 married Marie Knauer, who gave birth to his second child, daughter Katrin, nicknamed Lamme, in 1956. At the same time he worked hard on the series of large-scale color woodcuts that were shown in his papartment in 1957. Janssen was noticed and the same year had an exhibition in Hanover in the Hans Brockstedt Gallery. After this successful show, he suddenly switched to etching, becoming a pupil of Paul Wunderlich , whom he later considered to be a rival. In 1959 his marriage to Marie ended in divorce. His art now is experiencing an influence of art brut and Jean Dubuffet. A new marriage, now to Birgit Sandner, and a separation a few weeks later. Next year, 1960, marriage to Verena von Bethmann Hollweg, who, in 1961 gave birth to his third child, son Philip. In 1964 Horst Janssen receives Art Prize of the city of Darmstadt. In 1965 - a retrospective of his drawings and graphic works in the Kestner-Gesellschaft in Hanover; His position of a respected artist is strengthened with the Edwin-Scharff-Prize of the city of Hamburg in 1966. Next year two of the most important people of his youth die - his Aunt Anna and his teacher Alfred Mahlau. Janssen moves to Blankenese , Mühlenberger Weg. The following year, he is divorced from his third wife. His art now deals with the losses of these years. First prize for graphic art at the Biennale di Veneziais in 1968. Janssen begins a love affair with Gesche Tietjens. A trip with Gesche to Svanshall in southern Sweden leads to many beatiful drawings of the coastlines. His concentration on landscapes is supported with his return to etching. 1972 - Separation from Gesche Tietjen , who is pregnant with his child, Adam. 1973 - Love affair with Bettina Sartorius. In 1975 he gets another prize - Schiller Prize of the city of Mannheim, where his large drawing retrospective is organized in 1976. In 1990 the balcony of his house collapsed and he suffers injuries to his eyes. In 1992 the city of Oldenburg makes him an Honorary Citizen. Horst Janssen died on 31st August, 1995 and was buried in the Gertruden Cemetary in Oldenburg.

Horst Janssen Museum in Oldenburg [1]