Two paintings by Otto Lange appeared in the 1938 Munich Degenerate Art Exhibition, a forced display that followed his 1933 arrest by the National Socialists. As a German Expressionist active in the first half of the twentieth century, Lange maintained a career that spanned painting, graphic arts, and textile design, all centered within the city of Dresden.
Early Training and Education
Before emerging as a professional painter, Lange completed an apprenticeship as a decorator. His formal education took place at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Dresden, followed by studies at the Otto Gussmann Academy of art. These foundational years established his technical skills in preparation for a career that combined various aesthetic disciplines.
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In 1919, Lange returned to live in Dresden. He co-founded the Dresdner Sezession group, participating alongside artists including Otto Dix, Conrad Felixmueller, Otto Schubert, and Lasar Segall. Unlike the nihilistic focus of the earlier Die Brücke movement, this group prioritized social and political reform through pacifism. Lange served on the Academic Council of Saxony starting in 1921.
Professional Appointments and Decorative Work
Karl Hanusch appointed Lange as a professor at the State Art School for Textile Industry in Plauen in 1925. Beyond his academic duties, he pursued public commissions, such as the 1926 painting project for the Lutheran church in Ellefeld, Vogtland. His professional status faced a sudden shift in 1933 when he was arrested and subsequently lost his teaching position.
Graphic Techniques and Output
Lange produced a substantial volume of printed graphic works, covering subjects from still lifes and religious imagery to illustrations for books. He diverged from standard expressionist woodcut methods by utilizing an elaborate colour printing technique. Instead of employing a press or brayer, he inked the blocks directly with a brush and completed his prints by hand rubbing the paper.
Fast facts
- Born: 1879, Dresden
- Died: 1944, Dresden
- Citizenship: German Reich
- Occupations: painter, graphic artist, textile artist
- Notable 1926 project: Lutheran church painting in Ellefeld
- Academic role: Professor at State Art School for Textile Industry, Plauen
Questions readers ask
What artistic movements influenced Lange?
Lange was associated with German Expressionism and helped co-found the short-lived Dresdner Sezession group.
How did Lange print his woodcuts?
He used a unique hand-rubbing technique rather than a printing press, applying ink to the blocks directly with a brush.
