Josef Herman Obe Ra

Place: Warsaw

Born: 1911

Death: 2000

Biography:

Josef Herman OBE RA, a highly regarded Polish-British painter, was born on January 3, 1911, in Warsaw, Poland. He is known for his bold and distinctive style, which involves strong shapes with minimal detail. Herman's work had a significant influence on contemporary art, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Early Life and Career

Herman grew up speaking Yiddish and was profoundly influenced by Yiddish culture. From 1930, he attended the Warsaw School of Art, where he trained as a typesetter and graphic designer. In 1938, at the age of 27, Herman left Poland for Brussels, where he met many prominent artists. After the beginning of World War II and the German invasion of Belgium, he escaped to France and then in 1940 to Great Britain.

Artistic Style and Notable Works

Herman's style was characterized by bold shapes with minimal detail. He is best known for his paintings of working people, including peasants, fishermen, and coal miners. Josef Herman is quoted as saying: "I stayed here because I found ALL I required. I arrived a stranger for a fortnight. The fortnight became eleven years." One of his notable works is Miners (1951), which shows six men resting above ground after their work.

Museums and Collections

Many of Herman's works are held in the permanent collections of various museums, including the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, affiliated with the Swansea Museum. His work can also be found in The New Art Gallery Walsall and The Museum Belfast Waterfront. For more information on his works, visit https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3CC5Z-Discovering-the-Masterpieces-of-The-New-Art-Gallery-Walsall-United-Kingdom.

Awards and Legacy

In 1981, Herman was awarded an OBE for services to British Art, and in 1990, he was elected to the Royal Academy of Arts. After his death in 2000, the Josef Herman Foundation was established in Ystradgynlais to honor the artist and his legacy. For more information on his life and work, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Herman.

Notable Exhibitions and Paintings

Some notable exhibitions of Herman's work include:

• Josef Herman: To Live Work, No. 307 (103 x 91 cm, The Ingram Collection of Modern British And Contemporary Art)
• John Bellany: Ships in Harbour (91 x 91 cm, The Ingram Collection of Modern British And Contemporary Art)
• Ruskin Spear: Cat on a Roof (51 x 61 cm, The Ingram Collection of Modern British And Contemporary Art)

Visit https://Wikioo.org/@@/AQSJRP-Ken-Currie-To-Live-Work-No-307 to see more of Herman's paintings and learn about his artistic style.