Hans Alexander Müller

Biography

Book artist, book covers and jackets, wood engravings, calendars. Born 12 March 1888 in Leipzig. Studied and, from c1919-37, taught wood engraving at Leipzig Akademie für graphische Künste und Buchgewerbe (State Academy for the Book Trade and Graphic Arts); dismissed on 1 April 1937 because his wife was Jewish. Early 1930s: designed book jackets and illustrated books for numerous publishers. 1938: emigrated to USA. 1938-58: taught at Columbia University. 1944: became U.S. citizen. Died 7 July 1962 in Merryall, Connecticut.

Writings by

  • Woodcuts & wood engravings: How I make them, New York: Pynson Printers, 1939.

Writings about

    Julius Zeitler, ‘Hans Alexander Müller als Holzschnitt-Künstler’, Buchkunst, 1935, 2, pp. 109-17
  • O. Bettmann, Der Holzschneider und Buchillustrator Hans Alexander Müller, Vienna/Leipzig/Zurich: Reichner, 1936
  • PM (U.S. graphics journal), Aug./Sept. 1938
  • Vollmer, 1956
    • Ilse Unruh, ‘Vier Meister des Holzschnitts’ (Fritz Eichenberg, Johannes Lebek, Hans Alexander Müller, Hellmuth Weissenborn), Aus dem Antiquariat, 1989, 3, pp. A100-102 Anja Grebe, ‘40 Jahre Buchkunst in Leipzig’ (anniversary of the Institut für Buchkunst), Illustration 63, 1, 1996, pp. 16-18
  • Uli Eichborn and Ronald Salter, Hans Alexander Müller, Das buchkünstlerische Werk, Rudolstadt-Mörla: burgart-presse, 1997
    • R. Salter, ‘Deutsche Emigranten in der amerikanischen Buchkunst’, Marginalien, 1997/3, pp. 6-24
  • Benezit, 2006
  • www.drleslie.com
  • Ernst Fischer and others, Buchgestaltung im Exil 1933-1950. Eine Ausstellung des Deutschen Exilarchivs 1933-1945 Der Deutschen Bibliothek. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2003. Very comprehensive. , 2003, pp. 129, 130, and biog. pp. 190-91
  • Otto Bettmann, ‘Hans A. Müller’, Gebrauchsgraphik (International Advertising Art), Berlin: Phönix Illustrationsdruck und Verlag GmbH (later: ‘Gebrauchsgraphik’ Druck und Verlag GmbH), 1933-71. Published from Munich from 1950., June 1933, pp. 16-25

Exhibitions

  • Vendôme Gallery, New York, 1940
  • Galerie der Universität, Leipzig, 1997.