Julius Bissier

Julius Bissier was born on December 3, 1893, in Freiburg, Germany. After briefly studying art history at the University of Freiburg in 1913, he began attending the Kunstakademie in Karlsruhe the following year but was forced into military service a few months later. He returned to Freiburg in 1918 and began a career as a self-taught painter. In 1919 Bissier met the ethnologist and art historian, Ernst Grosse, who introduced him to East Asian mysticism and art. His first exhibition was held at the Kunstverein in Freiburg in 1920.

Bissier’s early paintings were strongly influenced by so-called "primitive" German painters, but in 1923 he began working in a realist style aligned with the Neue Sachlichkeit. From 1929 to 1934 he taught at the University of Freiburg, during which time his work became increasingly abstract.

In 1939 Bissier moved to Hagnau, Germany, on Lake Constance, where he started designing carpets and fabrics, which were made by his wife, Lisbeth, who was a weaver. In 1942 he met potter Richard Bampi and began experimenting with ceramics, sometimes in Bampi’s studio. The following year Bissier reintroduced color into his work. He began to produce colorful monotypes in 1947, and became interested in woodcuts and ink drawings from India. In 1955 he began a series of miniatures in tempera and watercolor.

In 1939 Bissier moved to Hagnau, Germany, on Lake Constance, where he started designing carpets and fabrics, which were made by his wife, Lisbeth, who was a weaver. In 1942 he met potter Richard Bampi and began experimenting with ceramics, sometimes in Bampi’s studio. The following year Bissier reintroduced color into his work. He began to produce colorful monotypes in 1947, and became interested in woodcuts and ink drawings from India. In 1955 he began a series of miniatures in tempera and watercolor.