Erwin Lang

Erwin Lang was an Austrian painter, graphic artist and stage designer, who received his education at the School of Applied Arts in Wien (Vienna). He began his career as a stage decorator in Wien and Berlin, and was first introduced to graphic works at the Viennese art scene in 1908. He created stage designs, illustrations and posters for his first wife, the dancer Grete Wiesenthal (1885-1970).

In World War I Lang was captured by the Russians, but made an adventurous escape to China and only returned in 1920 to Austria. His importance lay particularly in the area of wood cutting in which he pioneered unusual light effects by simplifying the drawings. He was a member of the Hagenbund and the Vienna Secession. His mother Marie Lang (1858-1934) was a well-known Austrian feminist and theosophist.