Alfred Cossmann

2.10.1870 Graz - 31.3.1951 Vienna (?)

The revival of copper engraving in Austria in its noblest form is basically connected with the name of Alfred Cossmann. He descended from a highly educated family the ancestors of which worked as artists or writers. While his father was devoted to literature, Alfred developed an exceptional talent for drawing.
Alfred’s parents were already of mature age when he was born; as a serious, quiet child he grew up in the seclusion of country life, and this explains his sincere relationship to nature. At school, his extraordinary talent for drawing was discovered, and so his father decided to build up his son’s future on that fact.

The favourable judgment of his cousin, a well known wood engraver, confirmed his decision to take the boy off high school, and he changed for Arts and Crafts High School. So, in 1885 he moved to Vienna. Both the great variety and the magnificent buildings and styles as well as the abundance of art in the big town didn’t fail their effect on the sixteen – year old boy. Nevertheless, he realized his own privilege in art to set the clear, controlled line in contrast to the magnificent splendour. At first he joined the pottery class of Professor Macht where he was tought the fabrication of majolica, enamel painting and glass blowing. When his father died he gave up his plans and started taking lessons at Professor Karger concentrating on drawing the human body.

This teacher paved the way to Professor William Unger who introduced him to etching. When William Unger was appointed to the Academy of Fine Arts for Professor in 1885, Alfred Cossmann followed him. Scholarships guaranteed his standard of living, in addition there were modestly paid jobs.
After 14 years of continuous and conscientious studies he left the academy at the age of thirty. Now he was able to tread his path as a copper engraver, quietly, self – controlled, committed to the clear line.

The transition to the new century was marked by the loss of social and cultural values. In the 19th century the art of creative work was rather traditional whereas the 20th century favoured innovation. Between these vast contrasts Alfred Cossmann went his way as an artist, unperturbed, dedicated to nature as a means of expressing the spiritual, and yet, on no account he was a loony artist. In 1905 he became a member of the "Künstlerhaus" but the Austrian Exlibris Society which was founded in 1903 was of still bigger significance for him. Alfred Cossmann took a decisive roll in the development of book plates.

In 1913 he married Anna Wettengel who stood at his side faithfully. He moved into an apartment in Lazaristengasse – it was his 15th place to stay in Vienna –and now, free from everyday worries, he found the final form of his expression in copper engraving. Numerous honours and awards – as the Golden State Medal in 1913, the Emperor’s Award in 1916 and, at last, the Decoration of the Austrian Republic in gold - verify and confirm that his work was highly appreciated because he had a lasting effect upon his time not only as a human being and artist, but also as an immediate teacher at the "Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt".

He has passed his ideals to so many students and one can speak of his "Viennese Copper Engraving School" whose graduates came up to his high standard. Some of the most outstanding ones were Hans Ranzoni, Friedrich Teubel, Hubert Woyty – Wimmer, Herbert Toni Schimek, Karl Haselböck and Rose Reinhold as well as the bank note engravers Rudolf Zenzinger and Rupert Franke.

When Alfred Cossmann died on March 3rd, 1951, Austria lost its finest artist in copper engraving.