Hans Aschenborn

Hans Anton Aschenborn (1 February 1888 – 10 April 1931) was a renowned animal painter of African wildlife. He is the father of Dieter Aschenborn and the grandfather of Hans Ulrich Aschenborn, both painters.

Male Lion, watercolour, Kiel (Germany)

Hans Anton worked both in Germany and in southern Africa.[1][2][3] His work is featured in the older German Thieme-Becker or Saur art encyclopedia.[4] A Master of Arts thesis by Karin Skawran [5] concerning the graphic works of Hans Anton Aschenborn was published in the South African art and culture periodical, Lantern in 1965.[6]) In 1963 the University of Pretoria published a book about Aschenborn as an artist entitled, Hans Anton Aschenborn : Mens en Kunstenaar.[7] In 1970 another one followed by the Pretoria Art Museum (South Africa) and a doctoral dissertation[8] concerning his work was done.[9] Other publications on Aschenborn feature his etchings and linocuts.[10][11]

He is well known for his illustrations of books and as an author and poet. Many of his works still are featured and may be found on the Internet. He was revered as a pioneer in the realistic portrayal of African wildlife. In 1916 he wrote the lyrics of the song, "Heia Safari", which also remains popular.[12] Some of his German books were translated into Afrikaans, giving him a role in Afrikaans literature.[1][6][13] While working on his book about gemsbok (which was also translated into English)[14] and closely observing them, Aschenborn discovered a variety that has been named after him, Genus Aschenborni.[15][16]

In southern Africa, he has been honored frequently with dedications. In Windhoek (Namibia) there is the Aschenborn Street, and in Cape Town (South Africa) the Hans Aschenborn Road.

Biography
Gemsbok, watercolour, Kiel (Germany)

He was born in Kiel, Germany. In 1909, he emigrated to Namibia, where in 1912 he bought a farm named, "Quickborn". In 1913 he married Emma Bredow. He moved with his family to South Africa in 1920, before returning to Germany in 1921. He died in Kiel during April 1931.[17]

His son, Dieter Aschenborn (15 November 1915 – 11 September 2002), and his grandson, Uli Aschenborn (6 September 1947), also are well-known animal painters in the south of Africa. The art work of all three Aschenborns may be found in the galleries, museums, and public buildings of Namibia.[2][3] and an exhibition of the work of all three generations was held in Namibia during 1965.

Exhibitions (selection)

Bibliography
  • Vollmer, Hans (1953), Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler des XX. Jahrhunderts, Volume 1, E. A. Seemann, Leipzig, p. 71
  • Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon (1992), Die Bildenden Künstler aller Zeiten und Völker, Volume 5, Saur, Munich 1992, pp. 383
  • Kloppers, Sas (2012) Directory of Namibian Artists, Dream Africa Productions and Publishing, ISBN 978-0-620-51746-1
  • Roos, Nico (1978), Art in South-West Africa, Aschenborn’s art (apart that from other Namibian artists) is also covered in the book of Nico Roos – being a renowned Namibian artist himself ISBN 0799303445

Artwork

See also

References
  1. Chapter in Afrikaans about Hans Anton Aschenborn also as a writer (please scroll down to the end) in wikisource by Pieter Cornelis Schoonees, who wrote about Hans Anton Aschenborn (translated): "On the field of artistically portraying our wildlife he is a pioneer …" )
  2. Philander, Frederick (21 August 2009). "Namibian Artist Gets European Recognition – Diplomacy Namibia". New Era. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016.
  3. Brits, Elretha (2 August 1992). "The Aschenborn clan (with the Aschenborn history)". Tempo. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. German reference
  5. Karin Skawran has become a professor afterwards as can be seen from the text in the following link (see also foreword)
  6. (Only in print) Master of Arts thesis about Hans Anton's graphical Work by Karin Skawran in the 'Lantern' - A Journal of Knowledge and Culture, (1965 December - Vol. XV, No. 2, pp. 58/67 )
  7. 1963, University of Pretoria, book by Karin M. Skawran in Afrikaans named Hans Anton Aschenborn : Mens en Kunstenaar
  8. 1963, Skawran, Karin, access to her doctoral dissertation (MA) about his work - PDF format, University of Pretoria
  9. Book about Hans Anton printed in 1970 by the Pretoria Art Museum (South Africa)
  10. Aschenborn's Etchings = Etse = Radierungen, Karin M. Skawran, 1972
  11. Hans Anton Aschenborn - Linosneë = Linocuts = Linolschnitte, Karin M. Skawran, 1971.
  12. Aschenborn wrote the text for the song Heia Safari, which is still popular.
  13. Reference to the Commemorative Exhibition 1981 as well as to some of Aschenborn's books Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  14. The life story of a gemsbuck; my gemsbuck book by Hans Anton Aschenborn, 1921
  15. Gemsbok, Oryx: Genus Aschenborni
  16. "Aschenborn's Oryx". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2019 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. Biographies of Namibian Personalities - search for Aschenborn, Hans Anton
  18. (Only in print) The Windhoek Advertiser (No. 5732, 21 September 1965) - The story behind the Aschenborn exhibition - Family's art through three generations
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