Hans Kohlschein

Hans Kohlschein (1879–1948), German, Hans Kohlschein, a distinguished German historical painter, draftsman, and caricaturist associated with the Düsseldorf School, was born on March 5, 1879, in Düsseldorf, and passed away on December 28, 1948, in Warburg. His artistic journey began under the guidance of his father, Josef Kohlschein the Elder, a copper engraver, who recognized and nurtured the talents of Hans and his brothers, Josef the Younger and Edmund Anton Kohlschein. Hans's formal education in art commenced at the tender age of 13 when he enrolled in the elementary class of the Düsseldorf Art Academy during the winter semester of 1892/93. There, he was mentored by renowned historical painters Eduard von Gebhardt and Arthur Kampf, later becoming a master student of genre painter Claus Meyer.
Kohlschein's early career was marked by significant contributions to large-scale projects, including assisting Meyer in the mural paintings of Schloss Burg, where he created his own unsigned work, 'The Murder of Count Engelbert of Berg.' His talent for monumental historical paintings became evident through works like 'The Silesian Landwehr at Waterloo' and 'Lützow's Free Corps Before the Battle,' which were acquired by the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. Kohlschein's 'The Mosel Peasants' earned him the Prussian Golden State Medal in 1913. His oeuvre also includes grand historical narratives such as 'The Place in the Sun,' a massive oil painting exhibited in 1915 to commemorate Bismarck's centenary.
During World War I, Kohlschein served as an accredited war painter, capturing the German Army's early successes, including the depiction of the surrender following the Battle of Maubeuge in 1914. His legacy as a teacher at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and his contributions to German art history remain significant, reflecting his mastery in blending historical narrative with artistic expression.