Hans Otto Orlowski entered the world in Insterburg, a bustling town situated in proximity to Königsburg in East Prussia, then a prominent part of Germany. His father, a master tailor, played a pivotal role in nurturing him during his formative years. Orlowski’s family eventually relocated, settling in Königsburg before moving to Potsdam near Berlin and later to Charlottenburg.
Between 1911 and 1915, Orlowski pursued his artistic studies under the tutelage of Harold Bengen at the Training Academy of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Berlin. However, his studies were abruptly put on hold due to the outbreak of the First World War (1914-1918). He bravely served as a soldier in Serbia and was wounded in action. Subsequently, he found employment as a draftsman in the War Ministry, where he honed his skills in producing linocuts and woodcuts.
Upon resuming his studies in 1918, Orlowski studied under the guidance of Philipp Franck and graduated in 1919. He was also a member of the Berlin Secession, an association of avant-garde artists, in 1918.
From 1921 to 1945, Orlowski shared his expertise as a professor at the Decorative Arts Academy in Charlottenburg, following a merger of two prominent art training institutions in 1924. He also dedicated his time to creating a substantial body of woodcut images and illustrations. In 1924, he embarked on a trip to Paris, which marked a significant turning point in his artistic career. He departed from the tenets of Expressionism and even destroyed over sixty of his paintings created between 1920 and 1924. His first solo exhibition was held at the Fritz Guerlett gallery in 1934.
During the Second World War, Orlowski was actively involved in welfare work at the Berlin National Gallery. Unfortunately, his workshop at the academy was destroyed in a bombing raid, resulting in the annihilation of all his woodblocks and 65 paintings. In 1945, his apartment also fell victim to the devastation of the war. That same year, the war ended, and Orlowski began teaching a course on murals and stained glass at the renowned Berlin University of the Arts
www.ftn-books.com has several publ;ications on Orlowski available
