Artist

Wilhelm Kuhnert

Wilhelm Kuhnert prints bring the lions, elephants, zebras and buffalo of East Africa into your home. Kuhnert was one of the most important German animal painters of his time, and unlike most of his peers he sketched wild animals in their own habitat rather than...Read more

Wilhelm Kuhnert prints bring the lions, elephants, zebras and buffalo of East Africa into your home. Kuhnert was one of the most important German animal painters of his time, and unlike most of his peers he sketched wild animals in their own habitat rather than in zoos. Our collection of fine art prints includes his African wildlife paintings, studies of tigers, bears and bison, and illustrations.

About Wilhelm Kuhnert

Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Kuhnert was born in Oppeln, Silesia, in 1865. After a technical and commercial apprenticeship he won a scholarship to study at the Berlin art academy from 1883 to 1887. From his home in Berlin he travelled to Scandinavia, Egypt, East Africa and India to study landscapes and animals.

He illustrated the 1890 edition of Alfred Brehm's famous animal encyclopedia, Brehms Tierleben, and in 1901 the zoologist Johann Wilhelm Haacke's Animal Life on Earth. He also designed collectible cards for the Stollwerck chocolate company. His journeys to German East Africa, which he repeated year after year, gave him the subjects that made his name, and his paintings shaped how many Germans of the period pictured Africa.

Kuhnert was also a keen hunter. He wrote and illustrated books including Animal Portraiture (1912) and In the Land of My Models (1918), and published a book of his etchings in 1925. He died on 11 February 1926 while recovering in Flims, Switzerland, and is buried near Berlin.

Style and Subjects

Kuhnert painted animals as he saw them in the wild: lions resting in dry grass, zebras fleeing across the plain, elephants at a waterhole, buffalo half hidden in a marsh. He paid close attention to anatomy and behaviour, and placed his animals in real landscapes under the bright, hazy light of the savannah.

His colours are warm and earthy, with golden grass, dusty browns and pale blue skies. Lions were his favourite subject. He worked in sketches, etchings, watercolours and oils.

Famous Works

Zebra on the Steppe (1891). An early African scene from his first journeys to East Africa.
In the Papyrus Swamps at Lake Jipe (1891). Wildlife in the marshes between today's Tanzania and Kenya.
Resting Buffalo (1906). A Cape buffalo lying in the grass, alert and powerful.
Jungle Life (1907), Zoological Society of London. A jungle scene held by the London Zoological Society.
Elephants at a Waterhole, Natural History Museum, London. A herd gathered to drink on the plain.
On the Prowl (1912), Royal Collection. A big cat stalking through the grass.
Lions in a Burnt Steppe. Lions crossing scorched grassland, his favourite subject in a dramatic setting.

Decorating with Kuhnert Prints

Kuhnert's African scenes suit studies, dens, libraries and living rooms with warm woods, leather, rattan and earthy colours. A large lion or elephant picture makes a strong focal point above a fireplace or sofa, while a group of smaller studies works well along a hallway.

Children and animal lovers will enjoy his wildlife in a bedroom or playroom, and his golden savannah light pairs nicely with safari, colonial and natural-material interiors.

FAQ

Who was Wilhelm Kuhnert?

Wilhelm Kuhnert was a German painter, author and illustrator who specialised in animals. He is considered one of the most important German animal painters of his time.

What made Kuhnert different from other animal painters?

Unlike most of his peers, he sketched tropical animals in the wild rather than in zoos, travelling repeatedly to East Africa to study them in their habitat.

What was Kuhnert's favourite subject?

The African lion was his favourite motif, and lions appear in many of his best-known paintings.

Did Kuhnert illustrate books?

Yes. He illustrated the 1890 edition of Brehms Tierleben and Johann Wilhelm Haacke's Animal Life on Earth, and wrote and illustrated books of his own.