German sculptor Hans Ruwoldt, born as Hans Martin Meier, was the son of an architect and adopted the name of his childless sister. His main focus was the production of animal statues and portraits. He did a sculpturing apprenticeship and studied from 1911 at the School of Applied Arts in Hamburg. During World War I he was a POW in France. After the war he continued his studies in Hamburg, beginning in 1920. In 1928 he joined the Hamburg-Secession. During the Nazi era, Ruwoldt worked for the Reichs Chamber of Fine Arts in management positions and switched from abstract to representational works. Until 1936 he was head of the sculpture department of the Reich’s Chamber of Fine Arts. After World War II, he was appointed to the Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg and conducted the sculpture class from 1955-59. Just one month after Ruwoldt’s death, his house, including his studio, was completely destroyed by arson. Several of Ruwoldt’s animal sculptures are located in Volkspark Hamburg (Hamburg People’s Park).
Germany