Manfred Oesterle (1928 - 2010)

Manfred Oesterle

Manfred Oesterle was a German painter, graphic artist, caricaturist and sculptor. In 1948 he was able to achieve professional success in the first satirical post-war magazine "Das Waspennest", founded by Werner Finck and Thaddäus Troll. From 1952 to 1955, Oesterle worked as a caricaturist for “Nebelspalter”, Rorschach/Switzerland. From 1955 to 1967 Oesterle was a permanent employee and member of the editorial board of "Simplicissimus", Munich. With 223 covers, he was the most frequently printed cartoonist of the internationally renowned satirical magazine. For many years, his caricatures, which are outstanding in terms of craftsmanship and intellectual excellence, have also appeared in “Spiegel”, “Zeit”, “Stern”, “Quick”, “Focus”, the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, the “Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung”, the “ Südwestpresse” and “Unser Geld”. Oesterle impressed with its immensely broad spectrum. His keen powers of observation and his almost eidetic memory for people and situations shaped Oesterle's paintings and graphics, especially in oil paintings and portraits. Wall and ceiling paintings, glass windows and tapestries were designed and executed by him as well as sculptures, reliefs and mosaics. As a master of the line, he always looked for the characteristic in his motifs. His drawings are pointed and humorous, ironic and critical, but never offending.