Hans Aschenborn

Who was Hans Aschenborn?

Hans Anton Aschenborn was a renowned animal painter of African wildlife. He worked both in Germany and in southern Africa. His work is featured in the older German Thieme-Becker or Saur art encyclopedia. A Master of Arts thesis by Karin Skawran concerning the graphic works of Hans Anton Aschenborn was published in the South African art and culture periodical, Lantern in 1965. In 1963 the University of Pretoria published a book about Aschenborn as an artist entitled, Hans Anton Aschenborn : Mens en Kunstenaar. In 1970 another one followed by the Pretoria Art Museum. Other publications on Aschenborn feature his etchings and linocuts.

He is well known for his illustrations of books and as an author and poet. Many of his works still are featured and may be found on the Internet. He was revered as a pioneer in the realistic portrayal of African wildlife. In 1916 he wrote the lyrics of the song, "Heia Safari", which also remains popular. Some of his German books were translated into Afrikaans, giving him a role in Afrikaans literature. While working on his book about gemsbok and closely observing them, Aschenborn discovered a variety that has been named after him, Genus Aschenborni.