Hans Christiansen (1866 - 1945)

Hans Christiansen

Hans Christiansen was a German painter, representative of classical modernism, decorator and illustrator.

Christiansen trained as a decorative painter in Flensburg and then at the School of Applied Arts in Munich, later studying at the Académie Julian in Paris. After a study trip to Italy in 1889, he moved to Hamburg, where he taught at the Technical University.

At the same time, Christiansen worked as a freelance decorative artist and was active in the Volkskunst-Verein, and was one of the founders and first residents of the Darmstadt artists' colony of the late 19th and early 20th century. Together with Josef Olbrich and Peter Behrens, he designed furniture, ceramics, tapestries, stained glass and graphic posters. He also designed his own house in the colony, which he called "Villa Rose," which was destroyed during World War II.

During this time, the versatile artist also wrote regularly for the magazine Jugend, creating many illustrations and covers. From 1911 he lectured at the Wiesbaden School of Arts and Crafts and was a member of the Wiesbaden Free Artists Association.

In 1933, Christiansen's work was banned by the Nazi Party of Germany because of his Jewish wife, and he was almost forgotten until his death in 1945.