Hans Wender: German Realist Painter

Hans Wender's Life and Career

• Born in 1938 in Eppendorf, Hamburg
• Began painting in high school
• Initially planned to be a doctor, but studied art at the Official Art School of Frankfurt
• Worked as a freelance graphic designer in Munich from 1960s to 1967

Development as a Painter

• Became a full-time painter in 1967
• Known as one of the first Photorealist artists
• Used photography to create realistic paintings

Characteristics of Wender's Paintings

• Mostly of the city of Berlin
• Transform light and shapes from photographs into detailed paintings
• Show areas of towns and cities that had not been seen before
• Not exact copies of photographs; brushstrokes visible
• Often feature busy Berlin streets with few people
• Focus on familiar sights, landmarks, and urban landscapes

Evolution of Wender's Style

• From 1970s, used multiple photographs to create complex urban landscapes
• By 1980s, moved away from Berlin scenes to different settings, such as Antelope Canyon and Cappadocia
• Began to paint portraits, including a famous portrait of Robert De Niro