Willi Geiger

Biography of Willi Geiger

Willi Geiger (August 17, 1878 in Landshut – February 11, 1971 in Munich) was a German expressionist painter, engraver and illustrator.
In 1903, Willi Geiger entered the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, where he studied under Franz von Stuck, in the same class as Hans Purrmann, with whom he developed a strong friendship. He was also close to the engraver Joseph Uhl, who painted his portrait, and was a student of Peter Halm. His works, marked by the expressionist movement, positioned him as one of the first modern graphic artists.
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Geiger collaborated with figures such as Richard Dehmel and Frank Wedekind on editorial projects and produced a significant number of engravings. During the Weimar period he illustrated numerous books while residing between Berlin and Munich. After 1933, his works were considered degenerate art by the Nazi regime. In 1947, he settled his accounts with Hitler by publishing a series of etchings entitled *Eine Abrechnung*. In 1953, Munich awarded him the Grand Cultural Prize of the City. Willi Geiger continued to paint and teach until the end of his life, leaving a lasting mark on the art world.
His works are recognized for their social criticism and their contribution to the Expressionist movement, despite the difficulties encountered under the Nazi regime.