Janssen, Horst

Even then he was given commissions, which he realized with his special monotype printing technique and numerous woodcuts. His professional success increased steadily after he received the Lichtwark scholarship from the city of Hamburg in 1952. This was followed in 1957 by his second scholarship, the Art Prize of the City of Darmstadt, the Edwin Scharff Prize Hamburg, and a first exhibition of his work in Hanover. In addition to many other prizes, he was exhibited in numerous museums. His works now find their way into American museums. After his death in 1995, the Horst Janssen Museum opens in Oldenburg and the Janssen Cabinet in the Hamburg Kunsthalle.

He left behind an extensive body of drawings, including more than 3,000 prints. His career in the graphic technique began with the lithography workshop. Later, he also produced large formats in woodcut technique. In terms of motifs, he embraces themes of expressionist and surreal whimsicality. Later, he virtuously mastered etching, which became his trademark. With a meticulous, detail-obsessed, filigree and yet expressive stroke, he creates whimsical pictorial worlds. Often erotic fantasies and organic ramifications of nature are the subject.