Rudolf Belling (1886-1972)

Biographical Sketch

The German sculptor Rudolf Belling was born on August 26, 1886 in Berlin and died in Krailling, near Munich on June 9, 1972. He was an abstract sculptural artist from his earliest works, at first influenced by Archipenko and the Futurists. Created what was probably the first abstract sculpture in Germany with his Dreiklang in 1919. Further masterpieces along Abstract Expressionist lines followed. In the 20's he sculpted many Constructivist pieces and, with his sculptures of heads, struggled towards New Realism and New Functionalism. Under the National Socialist (Nazi) Regime, he was classified as a 'degenerate artist' and a great part of his work was destroyed. In 1937 he emigrated to Istanbul. Served as chairman of the Art Academy there (1952-65). During his time in Turkey he painted portraits. Only in 1966 did Belling return to Germany. In his old age, he carried out several monumental commissions and received many honors. In addition to his sculptural work, his graphic production is of great importance.

After the war, Belling began exhibiting again, first in the Karl-Ernst-Osthaus Museum in Hagen in 1956, followed by successive exhibits in the Gurlitt Galery of Munich, the Vömel Gallery in Düsseldorf and the Ketterer Gallery in Munich again. In 1968, he exhibited at the Städtische Kunstsammlungen Museum in Ludwigshafen. Two of the last exhibits to be held during his lifetime were in the Neuen Nationalgalerie, Berlin (West) in 1971 and in the Galerie im Erker, St. Gallen, for both of which catalogues were printed.

Rudolf Belling's works still in existence today are to be found in Museums in New York, Vienna, Essen, Hamburg, Pasadena, Kaiserslautern, Wuppertal and in private collections. His daughter is in charge of his estate in Munich. ek

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References:

Rudolf Belling. Plastiken, Zeichnungen, Lithographien. Catalogue for the 80th Birthday of the Artist.,Galerie Wolfgang Ketterer, Munich, 1967;

Künstler unserer Zeit Band XVII, J.A. Schmoll gen. Eisenwerth: Rudolf Belling. Erker Verlag, St.Gallen, 1971

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Note:

The references given are not meant as a list of the best works available on the subject, but simply reflect the author's sources.

Registers and catalogues of works are included when known and correspond to the information given in the index.