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Heinrich Zille Filled Illustrations with Social Criticism and Humor
More than 150 years after his birth Heinrich Zille remains one of Berlin’s best-loved artists. Known affectionately as “Pinselheinrich” (Heinrich the Brush) or “Papa Zille” by the ragamuffin children, petty thieves and bar keepers of his age, Zille knew very well what it was like to grow up in impoverished circumstances. In his work Zille immortalized the life of ordinary people in Berlin. At the turn of the century Zille also knew every nook and cranny of the rapidly-growing industrial metropolis, including its darker corners such as the tenement blocks, dank cellar rooms and gloomy courtyards. He was not afraid to rub shoulders with the downtrodden and even spoke their language. “Zille, that Old Pa, is known in every pub and bar,” was a quip on the lips of many who lived in these working class districts. “No one would believe all the things I’ve seen,” Zille would later remark. “It hurts when you have to sell serious matters as a joke,” the illustrator was once heard to say. For many years Zille saw himself at the center of a row over whether he was a genuine artist or someone who just made “funny” drawings for the newspapers. Today his artistic stature is no longer in doubt.
Rudolf Heinrich Zille was born into a poor family on January 10, 1858 in Radeburg near Dresden. As a nine-year-old he moved with his family to Berlin. Against the wishes of his parents he took up an apprenticeship as a lithographer and studied art in evening classes at the city’s Royal Art Academy. His subsequent popularity can be traced back to his work for the satirical publication “Simplicissimus” and journals such as “Die lustigen Blätter” (the funny pages) at the beginning of the 20th Century. His pictorial book “Mein Milljöh” (Berlin slang for my stomping ground) appeared in 1913 followed by “Berliner Luft” (The Air in Berlin). Zille was soon displaying his work at art exhibitions but it was not until 1921 that the celebrated National Gallery in Berlin purchased some of his drawings. The illustrator died on August 9, 1929 in Berlin-Charlottenburg and was buried at Stahnsdorf, a prominent cemetery, near Berlin. In 1970, East Berlin named Zille a citizen of honor (Ehrenbürger) for his solidarity with Berlin’s exploited and oppressed as well as his humanistic and down-to-earth works. Zille was later incorporated into the combined list of citizens of honor for the unified Berlin.
Even during his lifetime there was a tendency to regard Zille and his works through rose-tinted glasses. So-called “upright citizens” were fond of holding fundraising events in his name, while later on many restaurants and bars named themselves after Zille. For a long time though very little was heard of “Heinrich the Brush.” The museum in Berlin dedicated to his life and works was only re-opened in Spring 2007. It had been forced to close temporarily because of a lack of funds. It is now time to rediscover the social basis of Zille’s work without neglecting the humorous side, the organizers of a two-venue show for Zille now say. It is being held to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth and can be seen at the Academy of Arts on Pariser Platz, with special events at the Ephraim-Palais in the Nikolei Quarter of Berlin, through March 24. January 24, 2008 Link 
Heinrich Zille Museum Berlin
- in German
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