BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1891 in Oberndorf, a small village near Kitzbühel, Alfons Walde’s life is shaped by the imposing mountains of the Kitzbühel Alps and the people who live there. Through his studies in Vienna, he also got to know the most important members of the Vienna Secession, such as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, and let them encourage him in his artistic work.
Influenced by Secessionism, he created still lifes, landscapes and scenes from rural life. Alfons Walde became internationally known primarily through the posters he created between 1920 and 1938 with winter landscapes and winter sports motifs.

1891

Born in Oberndorf (suburb of Kitzbühel), Austria, on February 8; son of Maria (née Ritzer) and Franz Walde.

1892

Moves to Kitzbühel, where his father becomes school director

1903-1910

Attends the Imperial-Royal Secondary Modern School in Innsbruck.
First aquarel and tempera works.

1910-1914

Studies at the Technical University of Vienna (Architecture). Visits Kirchdorf, Upper-Austria; lives in Weidlingsau (suburb of Vienna). Contact with Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. Receives support from the architect, Robert Oerley.

1911

First exhibtion in Innsbruck (Czichna Gallery).

1913

First exhibition at the Wiener Secession.

1914-1918

One year of volunteer service in the Imperial-Royal Landesschützenregiment 2, followed by service in the Landesschützenregiment 3, in Innichen, including tours of duty near Monte Piano, Zugna Torta and Pasubio.

1917

Returns home from Bosnia as a Kaiserschützenleutnant (Lieutenant of the Imperial-Royal Rifles).

1918

Returns to the Technical University of Vienna for the summer semester of 1917-1918. Contact with Egger-Lienz with regards to founding of a chamber of artists.

1919

Friendship with the “workers’ poet,” Alfons Petzold, who had recently moved to Kitzbühel.

1920

First exhibition after the end of the war in the Wiener Secession.

1924

Takes first and second prize in a competition of the Tyrolian Traffic Office (theme: winter landscapes). Designs and helps complete (along with fellow artist Andreas Einberger) two Kaiserschützen (imperial soldiers) for the Tummelplatz in Innsbruck-Amras.
Fiendship with Gustinus Ambrosi.

1925

Marries Hilda Lackner, from Kitzbühel.
Particpates in the Biennale Romana art exhibition in Rom; grant recipient of the Julius Reich artist foundation.

1925/26

Participation at the moving exhibition Tiroler Künstler (Tyrolian Artists) in Rheinland-Westphalia.

1926

Completes his first poster designs.

1927

Chief planner in project planning and development for the cable car stations in Kitzbühel/Hahnenkamm.

1928

First prize (shared with Painter Rudolf Stolz, from Bolzano, Italy) in a renewed competition to perform commissioned work for the train station in Innsbruck.

1929

Builds his own house on the Hahnenkamm/Kitzbühel.
Divorces Hilda Lackner.

1930

Marries Lilly Walter, from Hall, Tyrol.
His daughter, Guta-Eva, is born.

1932

First offical poster release for a Tyrol-commissioned advertisemt.

1935

Draws plans for the Hotel auf dem Brennerhof, in Kitzbühel.

1935/37

Lawsuit and trial involving a fake Walde painting

1938

Gestapo house search.

1939

Divorces Lilly Walter.

1940

Marries Ida Tropschuh; recruits as a pioneer to Salzburg, after a few weeks released because of illness.

1946

Two months of imprisonment in Innsbruck, as the result of intrigues against him. Begins intensive preoccupation with architectural projects.

1956

Awarded the title of Professor.

1958

Died on December 11 from heart failure, while staying at his sister’s house in Kitzbühel.