emil preetorius (1883 - 1973)
Emil Preetorius was a German illustrator, graphic artist, book designer and art collector. He is also considered one of the most important stage designers of the first half of the 20th century. In 1909, together with Paul Renner, he founded the Schule für Illustration und Buchgewerbe (School for Illustration and Book Design) in Munich, headed the Munich training workshops from 1910, and in 1926 became head of a class for illustration as well as a class for stage design at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) in Munich, where he was a professor from 1928. In 1914, together with Franz Paul Glaß, Friedrich Heubner, Carl Moos, Max Schwarzer, Valentin Zietara, Preetorius founded the artists' association "Die Sechs" (The Six), one of the first groups of artists for the marketing of advertising commissions, especially posters.
Preetorius created illustrations for numerous works of fiction from 1908 onwards. In 1932 he became scenic director of the Bayreuth Festival. In 1944 he made his debut as stage designer for the Richard Strauss premiere of Die Liebe der Danae at the Salzburg Festival. In his book cover designs, literary illustrations, advertisements and posters, Preetorius was influenced by Japanese woodblock prints; as a stage designer, he drew on Romantic classicism.
