Fritz Koch

Biography

Illustrations, caricatures. Born 5 January 1877 in Eberstädt bei Gotha. Studied at the Leipzig Kunstakademie. 1897-9: studied at the Karlsruhe Kunstakademie. From 1899: freelance in Leipzig. From 1902: worked in Berlin; illustrated for the journals Lustige Blätter and, from 1904, the Berliner Illustrirten Zeitung. 1908-10: lived in Paris. After 1918 he designed and illustrated many children’s books. 1921: designed emergency money (Notgeld). 1943: his studio and much of his work was destroyed in bombing raids; he then moved to Ahrenshoop/Althagen. Died 16 June 1956 in Rostock.

Writings by

  • Die Häschenschule (with Albert Sixtus), Opladen: Middelhauve, 1949.

Writings about

  • Julius Zeitler, ‘Frakturausstellung in Schriftmuseum Rudolf Blanckertz (Berlin)’, AfB, Jan. 1934, pp. 23-4
  • Martin Claus, ‘Der Bund Deutscher Gebrauchsgraphiker als Träger des Qualitätsgedankens’, AfB, 1935, pp. 165-92, esp. in inset
  • ‘Christmas and New Year prints [cards]’, AfB, Jan. 1936, pp. 31-42, esp. pp. 38, 42
  • numerous illustrations in AfB, 1936, from p. 303
  • Bildende Kunst, 1954, H. 3, p. 19
  • Toni Feldenkirchen, ‘Noblesse oblige’ (ads for Haus Neuerburg), Gg, Aug. 1954, pp. 46-9
  • Vollmer, 1956 (bibliography)
  • Jürgen Gottschalk, ‘Notgeldscheine als Gegenstand der Gebrauchsgraphik’ (emergency money), Marginalien, no. 59, 1975, pp. 25-31
  • Wilhelm M. Busch, ‘Erinnerungen an Berliner Pressezeichner Scheurich – Matejko – Koch-Gotha’, Illustration 63, Nov. 1984, pp. 98-104
  • DBE, 1997.

Exhibitions

  • Schriftmuseum Blanckertz, Berlin, Nov. 1933-Feb. 1934
  • Kunstkabinett, Berlin, 1953.