Heinrich Koehler (1914–2017)

Heinrich Köhler Landschaftsaquarelle

Signatur Heinrich Köhler AquarelleWatercolors and music

Heinrich Köhler was a virtuoso of watercolors, which some art connoisseurs dub the highest form of painting. Its art is defined by omission; and the painter has only one try. This means that corrections or retouching, such as is common in oil painting, are not relevant. The painter has perfected this technique during his entire creative period. Perhaps this was the reason why he signed his paintings with merely an “h”.

Double talent

His musical double talent has most likely helped him. For he was a passionate musician and a virtuoso watercolor painter in parallel. And he learned both from scratch. This can be seen even today in his landscape watercolor paintings. As an admirer of the Impressionists, light and color played a major role in his art.

Watercolor paintings like oil paintings

He allowed Bach’s music to leave its mark in his paintings. It motivated him, particularly in his landscape watercolor paintings, to apply striking contrapuntal lines. In this way he combined rhythmical lines with lyrical roles. Or in other words: his watercolor paintings are mostly colorful, the landscape’s lines appear dynamic, nearly dissolved. The paintings are not pleasing, but rather impressive. They possess the power of oil paintings, which is why they lack the lightness of “normal” watercolor paintings. For this reason they should be exhibited in this very fashion: solitary.

Biographical data

Heinrich Köhler was born in Berlin in July 1, 1914, and received early on piano lessons, upon sacrifice from his family. He later switched to cello. He discovered watercolor painting—as well as his biggest love and lifelong muse Gerda Wolter (1913–2013)—at the School of Applied Arts in Berlin. The artist died at 102 in February 2017 following an eventful and fulfilled life.

Education

  • Elementary school in Neukölln, Berlin, then Albrecht Dürer Secondary School.
  • Graphics studies at the School of Applied Arts, Berlin. Interesting drawings and studies remain from this period; these are sold at the gallery.
  • Chemigraphy studies at the Chemigraphical Institute Dr. Selle–Eisler, with subsequent employment. Examples from this period are sold at the gallery.
  • Watercolor technique studies with Prof. Heisig; studies at College for Music, Berlin.

A break

1939–1945 Interruption caused by WWII. During this time Heinrich Köhler finished his “War Report”, a collage made of small drawings, miniature watercolor paintings and textual snapshots.

Music

1945–1949 Cellist with Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin.
Although the young professional musician was from now on busy with developing the RSO and his musical career, he still found time during recess for watercolor painting.

1949–1977: cellist with RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin, later Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin (RSO, ancestor of today’s DSO).
During RSO tours in Asia he created watercolor paintings of a somewhat different character compared with his familiar landscape motifs. For instance: unusual cityscapes of Hong Kong.

Watercolor painting

1977–2013
Now starts Heinrich Köhler’s major productive period. Though he still loved music—as retiree he still played cello for a while with a quartet—he finally found now the time to develop his second talent. During his many trips to Northern Europe (Norway, Greenland), the mediterranean and the Canary Islands, especially Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, a comprehensive body of over 400 watercolor paintings has been created.

2013–2017
Following his wife’s death, Heinrich Köhler lived reclusively at his home in Berlin-Nikolassee. But watercolor painting did not leave him be, for in this period his few abstract paintings have been created.

Exhibitions

  • The 1980s Art Association Schering, Haus des Rundfunks “Musicians Paint”, Dresdener Bank Art Association
  • 2004 Exhibition on the occasion of his 90th birthday in Bad Reichenhall
  • 2005 Kulturforum in Lüneburg
  • 2006 Second exhibition in Bad Reichenhall
  • 2014–2015 “Life Journeys”, watercolor paintings from 1980–1995, Zunftwirtschaft, Arminiusmarkthalle in Berlin-Moabit
  • 2017 Gallery Franka Löwe “in Memoriam”

Further information

The Gallery Franka Löwe sells the artist’s estate exclusively. This means that all watercolor paintings are to be seen and sold there. The small art shop at the Arminiusmarkthalle is definitely worth a visit. You’ll leave here with more stories. Opening hours can be found here: If you’d like to come outside the opening hours, please contact us. And if you find a painting here, you may have it reserved.