Ernst Fuchs preserves the Beautiful in the arts
for the new millenium.
His works are included in the Collection of the Museum of European
Art in Clarence. B. John Zavrel, director of the Museum,
talked to the artist.
"When I stop working, then I become tired," says the painter Ernst Fuchs, who will be 65 years old on February 13, 1995. But even on that day he would stand at his easel, declared Fuchs. The famous representative of the Viennese school of Phantastic Realism has been nicknamed by his admirers "The Painter-Prince," on the account of his unmistakable paintings, aquarels, pastels, etchings, as well as masterful graphics.
Fuchs, who wears as his trademark the beard, long
hair, and a cap which he himself designed, has proved himself as a
multi-talent. "My main goal remains the total work of art," says the
artist with the mysterious look. His themes are erotic human beings
after God's creation, the Bible, and mythology. Fuchs also created
stage designs to Wagner's operas for August Everding in Munich and
Hamburg. Likewise he has worked for the Metropolitan Opera in New
York City. The world-wide popularity he also owes to the publisher
Richard Hartmann, who has published magnificent art books with and
about Fuchs, as well as his graphics. He is for Fuchs, what the
German Jew Daniel-Henry Kahnweiler was for Pablo Picasso: the most
loyal companion from the very beginnings.
Fuchs was born in 1930. His Jewish father Maximilian was a chamber singer and specialist on Schubert, remembers Fuchs. In 1939 the father escaped the reach of the Nazis by emigrating to Shanghai. He returned in 1949 back to Austria, where he later died. Both his father, as well as his mother who still lives with him, have influenced his artistic development, recounts Fuchs. As a 16-year old he studied at the Viennese Academy. He became enchanted early by the surrealistic paintings, and learned from the works of the visionary artists of all epochs, from Böcklin and Bosch to Salvador Dali, with whom he later became friends. After the study at the Academy he continued his education abroad. For four years he lived in a Benedictine monastery in Jerusalem. Then he completed his student years in Paris and the United States. Fuchs is now married to his third wife, the painter Eva Christina, who often stood model for him. He has eight children.
Fuchs' birthday wish is for a "long creative power," because he still has many ideas to fulfill. One's pursuit of art keeps one "young and fit." This is also true for those people who make themselves receptive to culture. A life without culture means the downfall for men. "But with art one becomes timeless," philosophizes Fuchs. He challenges the creators of culture to "bring about the renaissance of the fundamental European spirit, which in the end gave birth also to Europe as we know it." To this belongs above all also the legacy of the Christian humanism, after which the whole marxistic detours from it did not lead to humanitarianism, but the opposite."
With full-breasted Esther in Dali's footsteps.
As a friend of Dali,
Fuchs wandered also in his footsteps in the marketing of his art.
Thus, there originated in Austria not only furniture, wallpaper, and
objects with Fuchs designs, but also in Germany noble china was
produced by Rosenthal, and tiles in white-red-gold for the artistic
decoration of bathrooms and living rooms. An artist does not lose
anything of his prestige when he creates objects of high value for
the daily use. "It corresponds to my understanding of democracy, to
enable many people to enjoy beautiful things," says the Master. In
this effort, Fuchs has created also sculptures such as "Justitia,"
"Daphne," or "The Sphinx." To his large bronzes belongs a monumental,
full-breasted "Esther." She adorns the hood of Dali's car in his
museum in the Spanish town of Figueras. At the unveiling of this
biblical personage the "divine Dali" praised it like the King
Salomon: "Her breasts are like wells. I thirst for the milk of
knowledge."
Fuchs was criticized for combining his ability to
make modern designs with his acumen for marketing and business. But
this could not keep him from getting on the stage as a stage builder,
writer, and componist. An example of a total work of art according to
his liking is the Viennese residence of the artist, the Art Nouveau
style house on Hüttelbergerstrasse 26. Fuchs turned it into a
museum. For years now he has been involved with artists of Eastern
and Western Europe to create there a "Garden of the Arts," in which
will be also erected also a monument to Dali. When Fuchs is in
Vienna, he lives in the Museum. "Visitors to the Museum can also meet
me there," says the Master.
Related article: Ernst Fuchs, by Arno Breker
We recommend these books:
The Persistence of Memory: A Biography of Dali
Arno Breker: The Divine Beauty in Art, by B. John Zavrel
Holy Terrors, by Jean Cocteau
Castle to Castle, by Louis-Ferdinand Celine
WEST-ART presents works of art of well-known (and of some young, promising) European artists of the 20th century. Many of these lithographs were produced in low, limited editions in the Paris studio of Fernand Mourlot, the "master printer" of France. It was in Mourlot's studio where many graphic works of Chagall, Dali, Breker and Picasso have been produced. We offer hard to find, quality works of art from the leading European cultural centers -- France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, England, Switzerland and also from Israel.
The works are numbered, or marked E.A. (artist's proof) or H.C. (publisher's proof). Most of the lithographs are hand signed by the artist. All works are sold on "as is" basis. All sales of items in stock are final after 7 days of receipt.
SHIPPING COSTS: for books are $ 5 first book, additional books $ 3 each. Shipping costs and insurance for works of art are on individual basis.
RETURN POLICY: Full refund (excluding shipping) given if returned for any reason within 7 days of receipt.
SPECIAL ORDERS for items which we do not have in stock and have to order for you from Europe are FINAL, and cannot be returned for refund or exchange.
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ART POSTERS
Eva-Christina ( $ 60)
David and Bathsheba ( $ 60)
The Tree of Knowledge ( $ 60)
SCULPTURES
King David. A limited edition terra-cotta, gilded.
Price $ 1,800 plus shipping.
LITHOGRAPHS
Flora ( $ 980)
The River Nymph ( $ 780)
Alexander the Great ( $ 120)
DALI UND WEIN - DALI AND WINE 78 pages, $ 35
A color exhibition catalog with pictures of selected illustrations from Salvador Dali's cyclus Divine Comedy. Also pictures of several sculptures and objects of art by the "King of Surrealists."
FUCHS UND WEIN - FUCHS AND WINE 50 pages, $ 25
A color exhibition catalog of selected etchings and color lithographs by Ernst Fuchs of Vienna, the founder of the school of "fantastic realism." A friend of both Breker and Dali, the multi-talented artist Ernst Fuchs is the last living member of the "Golden Triangle" of the three artist-friends: Salvador Dali - Arno Breker - Ernst Fuchs.
Shipping charges for books:
In USA, add $ 5.00 for shipping per book. New York residents add 8% sales tax.
Foreign orders: $ 12.00 plus $ 3.00 per book.
Please contact JOHN ZAVREL at 716 - 759 - 6078 to confirm that the sculpture, lithograph or art poster are still available.
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Mail to: West Art Gallery, 10545 Main Street, Clarence, New York 14031 (USA)