Professional training in printmaking has been offered at the art academy in Königsberg since 1852. At first this only comprised copperplate engraving as a duplication technique. Technical innovations in the printing process soon replaced this.
In 1902 Heinrich Wolff (1875-1940) was appointed as a teacher for free graphic art. Under him, artistic graphic design in Königsberg achieved a high reputation. His 33 years of academy work had an influence on the East Prussian art of that time. Wolff's works are effective due to their painterly representation of landscapes, cityscapes and many portraits. From 1937 to 1943 Wilhelm Heise (1892-1965) worked as Wolff's successor at the academy. With stone engraving he developed a very exact technique which suited his new objective style very well.
Alongside Heise, Norbert Dolezich (1906-1996) received a free professorship in drawing and graphic design in 1939. As a pupil of Heinrich Wolff, he turned more to traditional techniques.
Illustration:
The printing house of the new art academy in Königsberg according to a lost painting by Eduard Bischoff from 1942.