Walter Becker

Walter Becker – Difficult early years; art studies in Karlsruhe

Walter Becker was born on 1 August 1893 in Essen. His father, a master blacksmith, died early and with his mother wishing a secure livelihood for her son, Walter Becker was initially unable to attend an arts and crafts school. The advocacy of his drawing teacher, who recognised Becker’s artistic talent, did nothing to change this and the young Walter worked in a department store during the day in order to finance evening classes at the Essen School of Arts and Crafts where he learnt figure drawing and wood carving. Despite these adverse conditions, Walter Becker already attracted attention with his art at this time and was awarded a scholarship. When he exhibited signs of tuberculosis, a stay in the Black Forest was deemed necessary, but it also significantly shortened the unpleasant military service and he was thus able to begin studying under Walter Conz at the Grand-Ducal Baden School of Art in Karlsruhe. Commissions from the Majolica Manufacturer Karlsruhe and from private hands ensured Becker’s livelihood. 

Friend and master student of Karl Albiker; first successes

Walter Becker became friends with fellow artists such as Rudolf Schlichter and Wladimir von Zabotin and together they founded the artist’s group Rih. Members of this group were in close contact with the art historian and folklorist Wilhelm Fraenger, who secured Becker’s first exhibition at the Kunstverein Heidelberg. During this time, Becker produced numerous book illustrations and, with his fellow artist Karl Albiker, dedicated himself to sculpture. When Albiker moved to Dresden to work at the academy, Becker followed him and finished his studies as master student in his friend’s sculpture class. Poor health forced him once again into a sanatorium, where he met Yvonne von König, the adopted daughter of the painter Leo von König, marrying her in 1923. Through his father-in-law, Becker met many important artist personalities including Georges Braque, André Derain, George Grosz and Thomas Mann, and was awarded the First Art Prize of the city of Hannover for a portrait of his friend Marcel Sauvage. 

Lost war years; steady artistic development

Walter Becker moved with his wife for some time to Tutzing in the south of France where they became close friends with the musician Ludwig Hoelscher and his wife who lived locally. Becker was unable to take up an appointment as professor at the Karlsruhe Art Academy due to pressure from the National Socialists and it was only after the war that he fulfilled a teaching assignment there. He returned to Tutzing, however, following the unexpected death of his wife, where the Hoelschers provided the lonely artist with support and comfort and encouraged him to continue painting. His eyesight began to weaken in the 1960s, hindering his artistic activity, but in the 1970s, he finally arrived at a strongly reduced, abstract painting style which he could practice despite his visual impairment. 

Walter Becker died on 24 October 1984 in Tutzing on the bank of the Starnberger See.