Claus Bergen (1885 - 1964)

Claus Bergen

Claus Friedrich Bergen was a German painter of the first half of the twentieth century. He is known as a marine painter and illustrator.

Claus Bergen illustrated Karl May's adventure tales early in his career, creating more than 450 works. He specialized in nautical subjects, depictions of fishing and coastal landscapes, and traveled to Norway, England, the Mediterranean and America. During World War I, Bergen created paintings depicting sea battles; he was the only artist of his time to participate in a submarine raid. In World War II, he was included by the Nazis in the "God-given list" and his work was exhibited in Nazi exhibitions in Munich from 1937 to 1944.