Journalist















The Illustrator

Hanns Heinen the illustrator


Hanns Heinen (1895-1961): Self Portrait, 1933
Hanns Heinen (1895-1961): Self Portrait, 1933

Hanns Heinen was above all a man of words. However, the author, journalist and poet also did a lot of painting and drawing. He was inspired by his close friend the painter Erwin Bowien, who was a permanent guest at Erna Heinen-Steinhoff’s salon (initially at the country inn of Bertramsmühle). Bowien was almost manic in the amount of time he spent drawing. In 1932, Bowien made a sketch of Hanns Heinen’s hands as he drew. However, only very few of his works have survived the test of time. Nonetheless, they are a testimony to how varied Hanns Heinen’s talents and interests were.


Erwin Bowien (1899-1972): The Hands of Hanns Heinen Drawing, Bertramsmühle Country House in Solingen, 1932
Erwin Bowien (1899-1972): The Hands of Hanns Heinen Drawing, Bertramsmühle Country House in Solingen, 1932