The Life and Career of Fritz Grewenig
Born in Heusweiler, Germany, Fritz Grewenig was a painter and university teacher. His artistic journey began with an apprenticeship in his father's decoration painting business, followed by studies at the Fachschule für dekorative Malerei in Saarbrücken. He continued his formal training under Richard Wenzel and later studied at the Königlich Sächsische Akademie Dresden under several instructors, including Richard Müller, Robert Sterl, Otto Gussmann, Gotthardt Kuehl, and Eugen Bracht. His education was interrupted by military service during the years 1914/15 and 17/18.
Grewenig held significant academic and leadership roles, serving as the first director of the Staatliche Schule für Kunst und Kunstgewerbe Saarbrücken and as a professor. He was also involved in the reconstruction of the Werkkunstschule Trier after the Second World War and later served as a professor at the Landeskunstschule Mainz. In his later years, he worked as a freelance artist in Trier.
Artistic Evolution and Works
The evolution of Grewenig's work saw a transition in subject matter and style. During his time in Saarbrücken, his colorful paintings were characterized by Expressionism and frequently depicted views of his homeland. In the 1930s, his work gained attention from prominent galleries in Berlin and Munich. Following his move to Trier, his focus shifted toward genre paintings of flowers and folklore.
His catalog includes the following works:
During the Nazi era, several of his works, including Mädchen am Büffet, An der Saar, Frau, Liegende, Mutter und Kind, and Weiblicher Akt, were confiscated and destroyed as part of the "Entartete Kunst" action.
