Georg Reitter

21.05.1922 in Steyr

Georg Reitter was born in Steyr on May 21, 1922. Early in his life he decided to embark on an arts" teaching career. But the year 1938 and its consequences made him suffer fully through the years of war ahead. After his „Matura" (A-levels) in 1940 he went straight into „Reichsarbeitsdienst" (Civil Service for the Reich), and the following draft to the Wehrmacht (Military Service) was inevitable. Injured several times, he in 1945 eventually managed to flee from East Prussia by sea and to return to his home in Upper Austria, where, for a short period, at Lambach he was taken Prisoner of War by the US forces. Still in 1945, Georg Reitter commenced his studies of Graphic Design, Painting and Fine Art at the Academy of Fine Art in Vienna as well as studies of History of Art at the University of Vienna. He barely succeeded in financing his studies by occasional commissions of graphic work, finished his education as a teacher in 1949 and then joined one year of teachers training at the BRG Steyr (Steyr Secondary School).

Thereafter, from 1950 to 1964, he worked as a a teacher at the BRG Lienz (Lienz Secondary School), Eastern Tyrol. During that time, he worked on his thesis about „Sankt Chrysanthen in Nörsach, Gemeinde Nikolsdorf/ Osttirol" (Sankt Chrysanten at Nörsach, Borough of Nikolsdorf/ Eastem Tyrol). In 1962 he graduated as PhD.  „sub auspiciis praesidentis" (under the auspices oft he President)1. His thesis was also published. From 1964 to 1982 he was Head of Department at the HTBLA Linz (Institute for Advanced Technical Studies). Appointed „Oberstudienrat" (Third grade of secondary teacher) in 1987 he was awarded the „Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschalt und Kunst" (Austrian Honourable Order for Merits in Science and Arts), in 1996 the „Österreiches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse" (Austrian Honourable Order for Merits in Science and Arts - l st degree) . He used the time which he spent in Eastern Tyrol for numerous hikes in the mountains and holidays spent together with the whole family at the nearby Adriatic Sea, through which he received many important ideas for his work. After 15 years as an art teacher, he became, for the following 18 years, Head of Department of Gebrauchsgraphik / Graphik - Design (Applied Graphics) at the Höhere Technische Bundeslehranstalt (Institute for Advanced Technical Studies) at Linz. Upon reaching the appropriate age, Georg Reitter retired in 1978, which however did not mark the end of his activities in the field of art. 

OStR Dr.Georg Reitter surprises through the variety of techniques which he applies. In painting, he specializes in water colours, as well as gouaches, tempura and oil. Likewise, he was a specialist in the field of graphics and their means of multiplication. Georg Reitter's penchant for wood- and linocuts are due to the influence of his father. Big mural works take a great part in his activities: Sgraffiti, ceramics, stone mosaics, plaster- and carboncuts. In spite of all his affinity to „modern" art, his work remained dedicated to representational art. 

Georg Reitter has created a considerable amount of smaller graphics over the years. He created original work for familiy and festivities' occasions. Georg Reitter has become internationally renowned as a creator of „Ex Libris", at competitions abroad as well as in the field of exchange of Ex Libris and as a member of our society. Without any doubt Georg Reitter, in the field of small graphics, has succeded in following the steps of his father Jörg, whose reputation as an outstanding creator of Ex Libris, in the 1930s reached as far as to America. We must not forget to mention Georg Reitter's interest in ornamental calligraphy, which however has recently been neglected due to personal Computers and word processing programmes. 

Note oft ranslator: Honour awarded at Austrian Universities for students receiving overall Distinctions  

Georg Reitter's work did not remain secret, proof of which are many exhibitions. His artistic style cannot be classified, which demonstrates his individuality free from influences. He remained true to his personal freedom in his work. And this is what we ought to appreciate in the work of the collector of graphics and Ex Libris, Georg Reitter.

Sources:

ANKWICZ KLEEHOVEN, Hans: Neue Werke und neue Namen im österreichischen Exlibris — Österreichisches Jahrbuch für Ex-libris und Gebrauchsgraphik, volume 28, pp 15 ff, Vienna 1933

PIZZININI:, Meinrad: Georg Reitter, Malerei Graphik Wandgestaltung, with a preface of Helmuth Burger. Steyr (Publishers Ennsthaler) 1998, 76 pages III ISBN 3-85068-550-0 (Still available , price € 18,17)