Volker Stelzmann

Biographical Sketch

The painter and graphic artist Volker Stelzmann was born on Nov. 5, 1940 in Dresden. Studied at the Institute for Graphic and Book Art in Leipzig (1955-68), where he taught beginning in 1973. Stelzmann's paintings are characterised by his preoccupation with German Late Gothic Art and above all with Mannerism, a style which he was able to combine in a grotesque way with his veristic tendencies and partially satirical viewpoint. Stelzmann also remained an enthusiastic drawer. References to all epochs, not least to Dürer and Rembrandt, fused with his meticulous technique of expression, in which he had taken up 'Neue Sachlichkeit', a sharp manner of observation as can be seen in Otto Dix's art. Parallels can also be found in other artists from Dresden such as Ockert, Nehmer or Körnig. The many-figured paintings of Italian (and Spanish) Mannerism fascinated Stelzmann. His socialist artistic taste leant towards the veristic stylization of human turmoil and appearance, from scenes of the Passion to portraits, but also allowed for exaggeration, satire. In his later work, the subject was improved through the addition of contour. Guest professor at the Frankfurt Städelschule (1987-88). Stelzmann left Leipzig to take on a professorship at the West Berlin Institute. ek

(*)

References:

Kunst aus der DDR - ein Überblick. Lenbachhaus, Munich, 1983

(*)

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.