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Hans Praetterhoffer
Born
Hans Prätterhoffer

(1943-09-11)11 September 1943
Vienna, Austria
Died29 June 2014(2014-06-29) (aged 70)
Vienna, Austria
Resting place
Ottakringer Friedhof, Vienna
EducationAcademy of Fine Arts Vienna
Known for
  • Painting
  • Drawing
  • Printmaking
  • Light drawings

Hans Praetterhoffer (born Hans Prätterhoffer; 11 September 1943 – 29 June 2014) was an Austrian artist whose practice encompassed painting, drawing and printmaking.[1][2] He became known in the Austrian art scene of the early 1970s for his Lichtzeichnungen ("light drawings"), long-exposure photographs recording the path of a small light source moved through a darkened room or landscape; from 1970 he also made stereoscopic versions using the anaglyph process.[3][4]

From 1977 he turned to etching, and later to figure paintings, watercolours and landscapes. In 1982 he won first prize in the second Römerquelle Art Competition.[3][5] His late work included a cycle of paraphrases after Old Master paintings (2002) and, between 2007 and 2009, a return to light drawing using digital cameras.[6]

His work is held in the collections of the Albertina in Vienna, the Museum der Moderne Salzburg and the Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz.[7][8][9][10]

Early life and education

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Praetterhoffer was born in Vienna on 11 September 1943; his father was killed in the Second World War the following year.[11] After private tuition from the painter Gerhard Swoboda [de] and a year at the Academy of Applied Arts (1964–1965), he studied from 1965 to 1969 at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in the master class of Sergius Pauser, taking his diploma in 1969.[a] In 1970 he was a guest student in screen printing and reproduction techniques at Vienna's Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt.[5]

In 1969 he took part, together with Wolfgang Böhm, Johann Jascha, Heinz Günther Leitner, Reimo Wukounig [de] and Günther Sponheuer, in a self-organised painting symposium at Mettmach in Upper Austria.[4][14] Five of the group — Sponheuer had returned to Germany — exhibited together in Linz in 1970 and, in October of that year, at the Galerie Seilerstätte in Vienna, where the curator Dieter Schrage [de] wrote in the catalogue that they did not constitute a group and had deliberately refused a unifying name.[14] In 1971 Praetterhoffer changed the spelling of his signature from Prätterhoffer to Praetterhoffer.[4]

Artistic work

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Light drawings

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According to the chronology in the group catalogue Arbeiten 1969–1979 (1980), Praetterhoffer began making light drawings in 1969.[4] Working in darkness or at dusk, indoors or in the open air, he moved a small point light source through the space while cameras with open shutters recorded the path of the light; a second exposure of the same scene in daylight added an image of the place to the drawing.[15][16] From 1970 he made stereoscopic versions by the anaglyph process, collected in the portfolio Waldviertel and viewable in three dimensions through red-and-green glasses.[4][3][10]

In the catalogue of the 1974 group exhibition Aspekte der Landschaft, the art historian Werner Fenz [de] discussed a triptych of light drawings made overnight in a garden in Vienna-Ottakring in October 1972 and recorded by cameras arranged in an equilateral triangle. Fenz wrote that the works were not photographs reworked after the fact — "it is the concrete space itself in which the artist moves" — the recorded traces of movement forming the work together with the documented reality of the place.[15] Praetterhoffer, in a catalogue text of 1981, described the process as drawing "directly and spatially into the room", with the reach of his own body setting the scale, and suggested the results might better be called "light sculpture".[16]

His first solo exhibitions, both titled Stereo-3D-Graphik, were held in 1971 at the Galerie Kaiser in Vienna and the Galerie Spony in Essen.[17][12] Further solo exhibitions followed in 1972 at the Galerie in der Passage of the Erste Österreichische Spar-Casse and, as Raumzeichnungen, Farbfindungen, at the Künstlerhaus Galerie in Vienna.[18][19] In 1976 he made a series of large figural light drawings at night in the open air, shown at a presentation in his Vienna studio that November.[4][20]

Etching, painting and later work

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From 1977 a cycle of about sixty etchings displaced the light drawings; a contemporary chronology and a 1986 review in Die Presse both connect them to free jazz, and several are named after its musicians, among them John Coltrane and Cecil Taylor.[4][2][16][6] Praetterhoffer wrote in 1981 that on the copper plate he had recovered the free spatial movement of the light drawings, moving the etching needle across the plate "as in open country".[16] From 1978 he developed Figurenbilder (figure pictures) in tempera, initially built on stencil drawings.[4][16] The figure pictures were shown at the Galerie G. Armstorfer in Salzburg in 1979 and formed his contribution to the group's 1980 exhibition at the Vienna Secession, documented in a catalogue of its own.[21][22]

In 1982 he won first prize in the second Römerquelle Art Competition, worth 30,000 schillings, for the watercolour Biomorphes unter der Oberfläche; the prizewinning works were exhibited in Vienna and Klagenfurt and at the Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz.[3][5]

In 2002 he made Paradiesparaphrasen ("Paradise paraphrases"), a cycle of watercolours and paintings after Old Master works, including the paradise compositions of Veronese and Tintoretto.[6][23] In an accompanying text he connected the sweeping arcs of these compositions to the arm movements of his earlier light drawing.[23] Between 2007 and 2009 he returned to light drawing, now using two digital cameras and light sources including LEDs and candle flames, presented as stereoscopic paired views.[6] Ill health ended his practice in 2009.[24] He died in Vienna on 29 June 2014 and was buried at the Ottakringer Friedhof.[1]

Praetterhoffer also published short prose. His satirical text "Zum Leben des Leonardo" ("On the Life of Leonardo") appeared in the St. Pölten literary journal das pult in 1970,[25][26] and an essay on spatial graphics as imaginary architecture in Planen – Bauen – Wohnen the same year.[12]

Reception and collections

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Contemporary discussion of Praetterhoffer's work appeared mainly in Austrian exhibition catalogues and newspapers. The profile in the 1982 Römerquelle competition catalogue stated that he had established himself in the Austrian art scene of the early 1970s with the light drawings, and found in the newer watercolours a continuation of his "imaginative network of lines".[3] Reviewing his 1986 exhibition Beseelte Landschaft at the Galerie Contact in Vienna for Die Presse, a critic signing K. S. described him as "a mobile, experimental and risk-taking, persistent and at the same time open painter and graphic artist" whose work combined "baroque and expressive-informal components", and found traces of the earlier light drawings in the new paintings.[2] For his 1983 exhibition at the Österreichische Postsparkasse in Vienna, Peter Baum contributed the catalogue essay "Kraftfelder persönlicher Imagination" ("Force fields of personal imagination").[27] A 2022 report in the regional newspaper Tips on a Braunau exhibition of his works from a private collection described his figures as expressionist and his landscapes as engagements with legend, including the Barbarossa myth of the Untersberg.[28]

The Albertina in Vienna holds thirteen of his drawings and prints, most dating from between 1969 and 1982, among them the six-part series Space Tug (1969).[7] The Museum der Moderne Salzburg holds twelve works dating from 1973 to 1986, acquired by purchase and by gift between 1982 and 1987.[8] The Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz holds several of his works on paper from the collection of its predecessor, the Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz, among them a 1971 colour screen print from the stereoscopic Waldviertel series.[9][10] In 1975 the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education and Art bought his mixed-media work Konzert as part of its annual programme of art purchases.[29] He was among the artists included in Die sechziger Jahre: Eine phantastische Moderne (2011), an exhibition drawn from the City of Vienna's collection at the MUSA in Vienna.[30][31]

Selected exhibitions and awards

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Solo exhibitions

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  • 1971 – Stereo-3D-Graphik, Galerie Kaiser, Vienna; Galerie Spony, Essen[17][12]
  • 1972 – Stereo-3D-Graphik, Galerie in der Passage, Erste Österreichische Spar-Casse, Vienna[18]
  • 1972 – Raumzeichnungen, Farbfindungen, Künstlerhaus Galerie, Vienna[19]
  • 1979 – Figurenbilder, Galerie G. Armstorfer, Salzburg[21]
  • 1983 – Österreichische Postsparkasse, Vienna[27]
  • 1986 – Beseelte Landschaft, Galerie Contact, Vienna[2]
  • 1986 – Raumlandschaften, Galerie Altnöder, Salzburg[32]

Group exhibitions

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  • 1970 – Böhm · Jascha · Leitner · Prätterhoffer · Wukounig, presented by the association Der Blaue Adler, Galerie Seilerstätte, Vienna[14]
  • 1974 – Aspekte der Landschaft, Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum, Graz; Kärntner Landesgalerie, Klagenfurt[15]
  • 1978 – Kinetik, Kybernetik, Landgalerie, Seebarn[33]
  • 1980 – Böhm · Jascha · Leitner · Praetterhoffer · Wukounig, Vienna Secession; Palais Liechtenstein, Feldkirch[34][35]
  • 1982 – 2. Römerquelle-Kunstwettbewerb, Galerie auf der Stubenbastei, Vienna; Klagenfurt; Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz[3]
  • 1984 – Zeichner sein, Schloss Sigharting[36]
  • 2011 – Die sechziger Jahre: Eine phantastische Moderne, MUSA, Vienna[30][31]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ↑ The Artothek Niederösterreich record and the biography printed in his 1975 catalogue Land-Striche – Strich-Menschen place him in Pauser's master class from 1965 to 1969, and a biography published by Galerie Lang in 1993 also names Pauser as his teacher. The chronology in the group catalogue Arbeiten 1969–1979 (1980) records the 1969 diploma as taken under Rudolf Hausner. The archive of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna lists him as a student of both.[5][12][11][4][13]
  2. ↑ Artothek Niederösterreich dates this award to 1972, as does the biography printed in Praetterhoffer's 1975 catalogue. Wien Geschichte Wiki dates it to 1978.[5][12][1]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hans Prätterhoffer". Wien Geschichte Wiki (in German). Wienbibliothek im Rathaus / Wiener Stadt- und Landesarchiv. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 K. S. (18 April 1986). "In den Lüften bleiben". Schaufenster. Die Presse (in German).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2. Römerquelle-Kunstwettbewerb (in German). Vienna: Römerquelle Ges.m.b.H. 1982.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Künstlerselbstvertretung (1980). Arbeiten 1969–1979 (in German). Wolfgang Böhm, Johann Jascha, Heinz Günther Leitner, Hans Praetterhoffer, Reimo Wukounig. Vienna: Künstlerselbstvertretung. Unpaginated (36 leaves). OBV AC11083537. Group catalogue with the artists' chronologies and portraits. Estate scan not linked (WP:COPYLINK).
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Hans Praetterhoffer". Artothek Niederösterreich (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Hans Praetterhoffer – works". The Estate of Hans Praetterhoffer. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Hans Praetterhoffer". Albertina Sammlungen Online. Albertina, Vienna. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Hans Praetterhoffer – works". Museum der Moderne Salzburg, Collections Online. Retrieved 14 July 2026. Acquisition details (purchases 1982 and 1986, gifts 1987) appear on the individual object records linked from this page.
  9. 1 2 "Praetterhoffer Hans, Ohne Titel (inv. G 6228)". Sammlung Online (in German). Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz. Retrieved 14 July 2026. Bestand: Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz – Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz.
  10. 1 2 3 "'Kriechkuppeln' und 'Linien', aus der Serie 'Waldviertel', 1971 Stereo-3 D Graphik (inv. G 8100)". Sammlung Online (in German). Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz. Retrieved 14 July 2026. Bestand: Neue Galerie der Stadt Linz – Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz. Farbsiebdruck auf Papier, 1971.
  11. 1 2 "Hans Prätterhoffer – Biographie". Lang/Art/News (in German). Vienna: Galerie Lang. November 1993. p. 12.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Hans Praetterhoffer: Land-Striche – Strich-Menschen (in German). Vienna: Christian Brandstätter & Cie. 1975. Unpaginated (8 pages). OBV AC16098609. Exhibition catalogue, December 1975 – January 1976, with a printed biography. Estate scan not linked (WP:COPYLINK).
  13. ↑ "Prätterhoffer (Praetterhoffer), Hans". Archive of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026. Matriculation no. 6616; the record links documents under both Rudolf Hausner and Sergius Pauser.
  14. 1 2 3 Schrage, Dieter (1970). Böhm · Jascha · Leitner · Prätterhoffer · Wukounig (in German). Vienna: Der Blaue Adler, Verband zur Förderung zeitnaher Kunst. Unpaginated (16 pages). OBV AC15112835. Catalogue of the exhibition at the Galerie Seilerstätte, Vienna, 1–31 October 1970. Estate scan not linked (WP:COPYLINK).
  15. 1 2 3 Fenz, Werner (1974). "Hans Praetterhoffer". In Skreiner, Wilfried (ed.). Aspekte der Landschaft (in German). Graz / Klagenfurt: Neue Galerie am Landesmuseum Joanneum / Kärntner Landesgalerie. Unpaginated ([26] leaves). OBV AC03319642. Exhibitions Graz, 9 May – 2 June 1974, and Klagenfurt, from 8 June 1974. Estate scan not linked (WP:COPYLINK).
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Praetterhoffer, Hans (March 1981). Radierungen (Exhibition catalogue) (in German). pp. 3–4 – via The Estate of Hans Praetterhoffer.
  17. 1 2 "Information: Praetterhofer. Stereo-3D-Graphik (1971)". basis wien (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  18. 1 2 Praetterhoffer. Stereo-3D-Graphik (Exhibition poster) (in German). Vienna: Erste Österreichische Spar-Casse, Galerie in der Passage. 1972. OBV AC10639028. Exhibition 19 January – 20 February 1972.
  19. 1 2 Hans Praetterhoffer: Raumzeichnungen, Farbfindungen (in German). Vienna: Künstlerhaus. 1972. Unpaginated ([12] pages). OBV AC01167535. Catalogue of the exhibition at the Künstlerhaus Galerie, 21 September – 15 October 1972.
  20. ↑ "Mappe Hans Praetterhoffer". basis wien (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026. The folder record itemises the invitation "Atelierpräsentation. Lichtzeichnungen. Hans Praetterhoffer, 12.11.1976, Webgasse, Wien"; held at the Sammlungszentrum Kunst St. Pölten, shelfmark KK.PRA.1774.1.
  21. 1 2 Hans Praetterhoffer: Figurenbilder [und Zeichnungen] (in German). Salzburg: Galerie G. Armstorfer. 1979. Unpaginated ([25] leaves). OBV AC14484337.
  22. ↑ Hans Praetterhoffer: Figurenbilder (in German). Vienna: Selbstverlag der Vereinigung bildender Künstler. 1980. Unpaginated (25 leaves). OBV AC03518211. Catalogue of Praetterhoffer's presentation at the Wiener Secession, 9 September – 5 October 1980.
  23. 1 2 Prätterhoffer, Hans (June 2002). "Paradiesparaphrasen". The Estate of Hans Praetterhoffer (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Hans Praetterhoffer – biography". The Estate of Hans Praetterhoffer. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Prätterhoffer, Hans (1970). "Zum Leben des Leonardo". das pult (in German). II (4/5 (overall no. 9/10)). St. Pölten – via The Estate of Hans Praetterhoffer.
  26. ↑ "das pult – AutorInnen". Österreichische Literaturzeitschriften 1945–1990 (in German). Literaturarchiv der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek. Retrieved 21 July 2026. The contributor index records Hans Prätterhoffer in vol. II (1970), issue 4/5 (overall no. 9/10); the journal was published in St. Pölten (ÖNB holding: Sign. 1,040.888-C Per).
  27. 1 2 Baum, Peter (1983). "Kraftfelder persönlicher Imagination". Hans Praetterhoffer (in German). Vienna: Österreichische Postsparkasse. Unpaginated ([4] leaves). OBV AC02522989. Catalogue of the exhibition in the Kassensaal of the Österreichische Postsparkasse, 13 April – 4 May 1983; copy also held by the Wienbibliothek im Rathaus (B-292103). Do not link the estate copy: it reproduces only the cover, and the estate does not hold the publication rights.
  28. ↑ Senzenberger, Theresa (5 October 2022). "Neue Ausstellung: Sagen und die weiße Insel". Tips (in German). Braunau. Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  29. ↑ Kunstbericht 1975 (PDF) (Report) (in German). Vienna: Bundesministerium für Unterricht und Kunst. 1975. p. 5.
  30. 1 2 Ecker, Berthold; Hilger, Wolfgang, eds. (2011). Die sechziger Jahre: Eine phantastische Moderne (in German and English). Vienna / New York: Springer. ISBN 978-3-7091-0743-0.
  31. 1 2 "Die sechziger Jahre: Eine phantastische Moderne". basis wien (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Raumlandschaften (Exhibition leaflet) (in German). Salzburg: Galerie Altnöder. 1986. OBV AC15622546.
  33. ↑ Kinetik, Kybernetik: Sommerausstellung 1978 in der Landgalerie, Seebarn (in German). Vienna: Galerie Lang. 1978. Unpaginated ([73] leaves). OBV AC04934519.
  34. ↑ "Böhm, Jascha, Leitner, Praetterhoffer, Wukounig (1980)". basis wien (in German). Retrieved 14 July 2026.
  35. ↑ "Palais Liechtenstein: Ausstellung bekannter Künstler". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 28 March 1980. p. 5.
  36. ↑ Zeichner sein (Exhibition poster) (in German). 1984. OBV AC10647715. Working meeting, exhibition and Kubinfest, 14–28 July 1984.

Further reading

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  • Peter Baum, Dieter Ronte, Kristian Sotriffer, Hansjörg Wachta, Margit Zuckriegl: Das pluralistische Jahrzehnt. Graphik und Photographie in Österreich am Beispiel der Römerquelle-Kunstwettbewerbe 1980–1990. Wolfhart, Vienna 1991, ISBN 3-900689-06-7.
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