Kurt Wiese


Kurt Wiese was a German-born book illustrator, who wrote and illustrated 20 children's books and illustrated another 300 for other authors.

Background

Kurt Wiese was born on April 22, 1887, in Minden, Germany. He aspired to be an artist but was discouraged by his community. He had at least one sibling, Ella Wiese, later Ella Barnberg.

Career

Wiese was sent to Hamburg to "learn about the export trade to China." From 1909 to 1915, Wiese lived, worked, and traveled in China. selling merchandise as a young man. At the outbreak of World War I, he was captured by the Japanese, and turned over to the British. He spent five years as a prisoner, most of them in Australia, where his fascination with the animal life inspired him to start sketching again. After his release at the end of the war, Wiese returned briefly to Germany and then moved to Brazil, where he began illustrating.
In 1927, Wiese moved to the United States. His first critical success was with the illustrations for Felix Salten's Bambi in 1928. From his farm in Kingwood Township, New Jersey, he worked with German master printmaker Theodore Cuno of Germantown, Pennsylvania, to create some of his lithographs.

Personal life and death

In 1930, Wiese married Gertrude Hausen, a realtor, with whom he lived on a farm in Kingwood Township, New Jersey.
Kurt Wiese died age 87 on May 27, 1974, in Idell, Kingwood Township near Flemington, New Jersey.

Awards

;Freddy the Pig
Freddy the Pig was featured in 26 books written by Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Wiese, and published by Alfred A. Knopf from 1927 to 1958. The first, titled To and Again – in reference to a constituent journey to and back again from Florida - was illustrated by Adolfo Best Maugard. The sequel, More To and Again - with a trip to the North Pole and back - was illustrated by Wiese. These first two books were later reprinted and retitled as Freddy Goes to Florida and Freddy Goes to the North Pole, with the former incorporating new illustrations by Wiese. They were followed by Freddy the Detective, three more various titles, 19 novels with "Freddy" titles and The Collected Poems of Freddy the Pig. For some time all 25 novels have been issued with "Freddy" titles.
;Others Brazil
;Others USA
The following books have New York City publishers, except as noted: