1901, Austria - 1976, Austria

Johann Gittenberger was a worker. All his life he had to fight with serious problems due to his alcoholism. After having suffered from a stroke, he was hospitalized in 1970. During four years he became one of the inhabitants of the House of the Artists in Gugging, directed by Professor Leo Navratil. There he drew for himself and refused all external incentive. His artistic production seems to follow two distinct directions : first, he created all kinds of plans of cities or roads mixed with writings and notes. Secondly, he drew portraits or bodies often placed in frames, as if he wished to stage them for an imaginary exhibition. In 1975, physically too fragile, he was transferred to an old people’s home where he died one year later.

SEE ALSO : NAVRATIL (Leo). Die Künstler aus Gugging, Vienna, Berlin : Medusa, 1983.