Erich Wessel was born on April 26, 1906 in Hamburg and died on May 21, 1983. He was a German painter and graphic artist. His father was a pilot and on his request Erich took an apprenticeship as a decorative painter from 1921-24 and so discovered his love for art. In 1928 he began his studies as a student of Prof. Arthur Illies at the art school. He financed his studies by teaching violin lessons. The post-Impressionist style that Illies represented also influenced his work.

From 1929 he worked as a freelance artist in a studio on Caroline street. It was there that then head of the Hamburger Kunsthalle, Gustav Pauli, paid attention to him. It enabled him numerous study trips, including...