Life and Artistic Education
Harald Thiel was a German painter and graphic artist. Born in Nová Ves v Horách, Germany, his life was shaped by witnessing the air raids on Dresden at the age of thirteen. Following his military service, he pursued formal training in painting at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden, studying under Rudolf Bergander and Erich Fraaß. His academic journey included a period of study in Bulgaria, and his diploma work was the oil painting titled Kinderkrippe am Wochenende.
Thiel’s professional career in Dresden involved various roles, including working as a freelance artist and serving as a specialist teacher at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden. His teaching roles spanned several disciplines, including stage design, trick film, mask design, and drawing for nature studies.
Artistic Style and Commissions
Thiel's body of work evolved through different stylistic phases. He initially worked in the style of Socialist Realism, particularly through commissions with the 7. Panzerdivision of the NVA. Notable works from this period include the diptych Fahneneid and Porträt eines Offiziers der NVA. By the 1970s, his approach shifted toward a more individualistic form of figurative representation, characterized by the multifaceted dissolution of his subjects.
Beyond his paintings and graphics, Thiel contributed to public art through architectural designs. His diverse commissions included:
