Hermann Huffert

Biography

Book illustrations, book jackets, wood-engravings, exlibris, packaging, publicity. Born 1 March 1904 in Schönbach, near Marburg. Apprenticed with a lithographer. Took evening classes in drawing. 1924-8: studied at the Munich Kunstakademie: his teachers included F.H. Ehmcke and Emil Preetorius. 1928-30: engraver in the studio of Paul J. Landmann in Mannheim-Neckerau. From 1930: graphic artist, designed packaging and labels for the art studio of the printing firm Illert & Ewald at Steinheim am Main. 1940?-45?: military service; prisoner of the Russians for several years. 1945?: returned to Illert & Ewald where he worked to c1970. Awarded medals at the International Exlibris Biennale, Malbork, Poland. Signed his charming exlibris work ‘Huffe’ or ‘Huff’. His work frequently appeared in Das Zelt, the journal of the Ehmcke-Kreises, and in Exlibriskunst und Gebrauchsgraphik c1950-80.

Writings about

  • Das Zelt, 9, 1928 (special no.)
  • Der Holzschnitt, April 1930 (4 ills.)
  • Der Holzschnitt, Jan. 1932, p. 6 (ill.)
  • ‘Hermann Huffert’, Gg, Jan. 1934, pp. 58-63
  • AfB, 1934, p. 425 (woodcuts)
  • ‘Hermann Huffert, Zigarrenpackungen’, Das Zelt, H. 1, 1935
  • F.H. Ehmcke, ‘Das Gebrauchsexlibris’, Das Zelt, H. 5/6, 1935
  • ‘Christmas and New Year prints [cards]’, AfB, Jan. 1936, pp. 31-42, esp. p. 34
  • numerous wood engravings in AfB, June 1936 (brief note: p. 75), and Jan. 1938: facing p. 1, and 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 28
  • Wolfgang Bruhn, ‘Deutsche Buchillustration und Buchschmuck der Gegenwart’, AfB, 1939, pp. 529-96, esp. pp. 576
  • Walter Hofmann, ‘Die Entwicklung der deutschen Werbegraphik’ (advertising), AfB, 1939, pp. 597-662, esp. pp. 623, 648
  • Max Schweim, ‘Hermann Huffert’, Exlibris, 1939, pp. 33-6 (includes list of exlibris 1925-39)
  • AfB, 2, 1942
  • Hans Laut, ‘Hermann Huffert’, EuG, 1959, pp. 11-13
  • Mark Severin and Anthony Reich, ‘Engraved bookplates’, Private Library, 1972
  • Ursula Ernestus, Hermann Huffert. En tysk grafiker og exlibriskunstner, Frederikshavn: Klaus Rödel (Exlibristen), 1973 (4 languages)
  • Norbert H. Ott, ‘Hermann Huffert ein Siebziger’ (70th birthday), EuG, 1975, pp. 27-30 plus 2-p. supplement
  • R.A. Winkler, ‘Weinetiketten’ (labels), Aus dem Antiquariat, 1980, 12, pp. A533-7
  • Marietta Kleiss, ‘Hermann Huffert – ein Begriff für Exlibris-Sammler’, Aus dem Antiquariat, 1981, 3, pp. A120-24
  • MGD, 1992.

Exhibitions

  • Gutenberg Museum, Mainz, 1994.