Otto Nückel
Encyclopedia
Otto Nückel was a German painter, graphic designer, illustrator and cartoonist. He best known as one the 20th century's pioneer wordless novelist, along with Frans Masereel
and Lynd Ward
.
Nückel, who had exhibited skill as an artist in his childhood, dropped out of medical school in Freiburg im Breisgau and moved to Munich
where he resided for the remainder of his life. There he developed his skill in drawing and painting, joining the artists' association, the Munich Sezession, and developing an interest in relief printing. Because of the scarcity of wood, Nückel made engraving
s for relief prints on lead
plates. A pioneer in lead engraving, Nückel developed an accomplished mastery of this medium, distinguished by ample use of the multiple-line tool. He illustrated works by Thomas Mann
, E. T. A. Hoffman and others before garnering considerable attention with his own publication Destiny: A story in pictures (Schicksal. Eine Geschicte in Bildern. Munich: Delphin Verlag, 1930). This wordless novel highlights the life and suffering of a female protagonist as a vehicle for a dark social critique. Much of Nückel's work favors dark comedy, profound irony and an often scathing sarcasm.
Nückel's series of "Studio Visits" (Atelierbesuche) to studios from Ensor
to Bosch were famous. Nückel earned his living as an illustrator
and cartoonist
. He was a contributor to the satirical
magazines Simplicissimus and Simpl and to children's perioical Ping-Pong.
New editions of Destiny have been published in the US by Dover and in France under the title 'Destin' in 2005 (Éditions IMHO, Paris).
Frans Masereel
Frans Masereel was a Flemish painter and graphic artist who worked mainly in France. He is known especially for his woodcuts. His greatest work is generally said to be the wordless graphic novel Mon Livre d'Heures . He completed over 20 other wordless novels in his career...
and Lynd Ward
Lynd Ward
Lynd Kendall Ward was an American artist and storyteller, and son of Methodist minister and prominent political organizer Harry F. Ward. He illustrated some 200 juvenile and adult books...
.
Life
Nückel, who had exhibited skill as an artist in his childhood, dropped out of medical school in Freiburg im Breisgau and moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
where he resided for the remainder of his life. There he developed his skill in drawing and painting, joining the artists' association, the Munich Sezession, and developing an interest in relief printing. Because of the scarcity of wood, Nückel made engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s for relief prints on lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
plates. A pioneer in lead engraving, Nückel developed an accomplished mastery of this medium, distinguished by ample use of the multiple-line tool. He illustrated works by Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann
Thomas Mann was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and 1929 Nobel Prize laureate, known for his series of highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novellas, noted for their insight into the psychology of the artist and the intellectual...
, E. T. A. Hoffman and others before garnering considerable attention with his own publication Destiny: A story in pictures (Schicksal. Eine Geschicte in Bildern. Munich: Delphin Verlag, 1930). This wordless novel highlights the life and suffering of a female protagonist as a vehicle for a dark social critique. Much of Nückel's work favors dark comedy, profound irony and an often scathing sarcasm.
Nückel's series of "Studio Visits" (Atelierbesuche) to studios from Ensor
James Ensor
James Sidney Edouard, Baron Ensor was a Flemish-Belgian painter and printmaker, an important influence on expressionism and surrealism who lived in Ostend for almost his entire life...
to Bosch were famous. Nückel earned his living as an illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
and cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. He was a contributor to the satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
magazines Simplicissimus and Simpl and to children's perioical Ping-Pong.
New editions of Destiny have been published in the US by Dover and in France under the title 'Destin' in 2005 (Éditions IMHO, Paris).
As illustrator
Nückel provided illustrations for these books, among others:- A. M. Frey, Solneman der Unsichtbare (woodcuts), Delphin Verlag, München, 1914
- A. M. Frey, Spuk des Alltags (woodcuts), Delphin Verlag, München, 1920
- Thomas Mann, Der kleine Herr Friedemann (woodcuts), Phantasus-Verlag, München, 1920
- Clemens Brentano, Das Märchen vom Schulmeister Klopfstock (wood engravings), Freitag-Verlag, München. 1947
- Stefan Andres, Vom heiligen Pfäfflein Domenico (wood engravings), Paul List Verlag, München, 1966
Exhibitions
- Lenbachhaus, München 1956
- Berufsverband bildender Künstler, München 1965
- EP Galerie, Düsseldorf 2005