The Life and Artistic Journey of Alois Erbach
Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, Alois Erbach began his professional life with an apprenticeship as a locksmith. After leaving that path, he trained as a surveying technician at the land registry office. His passion for painting emerged during his leisure time through impressionistic watercolors. In 1908, Erbach and John Heartfield traveled to Munich, where they lived in poverty while seeking artistic recognition. His talent led to admission to study under Heinrich Knirr at the Royal School of Applied Arts, and he later pursued painting at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts starting in 1911.
Following his service as a soldier in the First World War, Erbach returned to Wiesbaden-Sonnenberg to work as a freelance artist. He was a co-founder of the Düsseldorf group Das Junge Rheinland in 1919 and was a member of the Dresden Secession Group. His career saw him move to Berlin, where he lived until 1933. During this period, he used the pseudonyms Aleus or Marc Aleus to provide caricatures for various satirical magazines and publications like Rote Fahne and Eulenspiegel.
Artistic Style and Notable Works
The evolution of Erbach's work saw him move from early expressionism toward the styles of surrealism and New Objectivity. His output included various mediums, such as watercolors, oil on canvas, tempera, and printmaking. Some of his documented works include:
In 1933, Erbach emigrated to Mallorca via Paris. His work was later targeted during the Entartete Kunst period, resulting in the seizure of several pieces from public collections. After returning to Wiesbaden in 1945, he continued his career as a freelance artist and was a member of the Künstlergruppe 50.
