Helga Scholler, printmaker from Graz

Helga Scholler

(1938-2012)

Austrian painter and unexpected printmaker.

Over the years my main interest in printmaking has shifted focusing to German women printmakers born 1860-1900 and working in the first three decades of the XXth century but I could not resist this, obviously much younger but fine bouquet. The print (35 x 40 cm.) by an unknown printmaker was recently delivered, the postage, handling and sending costs exceeding the auction winning price by a factor 5. I fell for the soft use of colors and the “modernistic” and direct approach.  

And of course because of the puzzle that always lies ahead, figuring out who could have made it. And not in the least because of the prize, lack of buyers and interest made it cheap and affordable. 

Besides: I already knew this charming small (10 x 15 cm.) print with a similar monogram H.S. and although I have built quite a large archive concerning dead woodblock and linocut printmakers I had no idea or clue to this maker.
A possible candidate, also using the monogram H.S. was German printmaker Heinrich Schröder (1881-1942) but he obviously isn’t a likely nor serious candidate (below.) and his use of the Monogram hS is very consistent. 

The solution came unexpectedly: by opening the frame and removing the old mat covering the title and the signature: “Margariten und Dahlien”, and “H. Scholler”. 

Helga Scholler was born 1938 in Leoben near Graz in Austria and received between 1954 and 1956 painting instruction from Austrian painter Assuanta von Arbesser (1884-1971), studying 1956-1960 in the Graz Vocational School for Arts following a master class with Rudolph Szyszkowitz (1905-1976) and from 1960-1964 in the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna with Herbert Böckl (1894-1966) and Fransz Elsner (1898-1977).

Helga Scholler worked as a freelance artist in Graz, exhibiting extensively her paintings internationally and winning many prizes. Her works are collected and preserved in private collections and several museums in Austria including the famous Albertina Museum.

I have no idea who might have inspired Helga Scholler to try at woodblock printmaking but Graz was after all the domicile of pre-eminent Austrian printmaker Norbertine Bresslern-Roth (1891-1978). Until the Nazis took over she was working as an artist and professor in Graz only to take up her career after the war had ended.

All pictures borrowed freely from the internet for friendly, educational and non commercial use only.

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