Wilhelm LANDSMANN

Wilhelm Landsmann (1906-1986?) was born in Vienna and probably grew up there.  He is known to have studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (Akademie der Bildenden Künste Wien) from 1925 to 1929.  One of his teachers there was the etcher Rudolf Jettmar (1869-1939) who must have passed some of his knowledge to his pupil.  Landsmann studied art history as well, which afforded him the ability to teach art in high schools.  It is unclear whether he ever did.  But he did become a practicing artist, painting, and etching.  He was an active member of the Berufsvereinigung Bildender Künstler Österreichs, which still exists today.  He seems to have lived and worked mostly in Vienna, but an interest in landscape and tradition did send him into the countryside.  Landsmann is known for portraits, landscapes, a few still lives, but also as a costume and mask designer.  Some biographical details are still to be refined.  At least one of his etchings was titled “Going Home” in English.  It begs the question of whether it was created for an Anglo-Saxon market.  It is also possible that Landsmann was Jewish.  A few depictions of Rabbis of his hand exist.  This begs the question of a possible exile from the late 1930s to the end of World War II, at least.  Any additional information is welcome.