Theodor Werner

Born. 14.02.1886 in Jettenburg
Died. 15.01.1969 in Munich

German painter, abstract painting

About the artist

Theodor Werner was born on 14 February 1886 in Jettenburg in Baden-Württemberg. He wanted to be a teacher and studied at the teacher training college in Kirchberg. While he was training to be a teacher he enrolled at the art academy in Stuttgart.

Like all the great artists during the beginning of the 20th century, Werner would often travel to Paris to gain inspiration, improve his technique, and acquire new skills at Charles Guérin‘s studio.

After World War I, Werner worked mainly on Impressionist-influenced still lifes and landscapes similar to the works of  Paul Cézanne. He moved to Paris in 1930, where he became a member of the Abstraction-Création group and found an interest in abstract painting.

As a so-called degenerate artist, he was banned from painting and exhibiting during the Third Reich in Germany. He moved to Berlin after WWII where he created many of his abstract works. Werner became a member of the artists’ group ZEN 49 and participated in the first annual exhibition at the Deutscher Künstlerbund at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin where he would later work as a professor.  In 1959, Werner relocated to live and work in Munich, remaining until he died on 15 January 1969.