The Life and Artistic Practice of Erik Richter
Born in Berlin, Germany, Erik Richter was a painter, graphic artist, and chess composer. The son of the painter Robert Richter, he initially studied biology before dedicating himself fully to painting following the end of the First World War. His professional career included serving as a teacher at the United State Schools for Free and Applied Arts in Berlin, where he eventually became an extraordinary professor. Due to his refusal to join the NSDAP, he was denied a full professorship. Following a flight from Berlin in 1944, he resided in Plön from 1948 until his death.
Richter's artistic output was diverse, encompassing large-format oil paintings in the style of naturalism—primarily landscape paintings and marine subjects—as well as numerous etchings. He frequently sketched animals at the Berlin Zoo alongside his wife, Anni Richter, and conducted excursions with his students to Rügen and Vilm. In 1948, he co-founded a private art school in Plön with Karl Storch the Younger.
Chess Composition and Intellectual Pursuits
Beyond the canvas, Richter was an active and skilled chess player. He participated in various matches and was a long-time member of the Kiel Chess Society. His intellectual pursuits extended into the realm of chess composition, where he created several chess problems and miniatures in the style of the Bohemian School. His compositions were noted for their originality, wit, and the use of the element of surprise.
