Wilhelm Heinrich Focke

North German painter W.H. Focke (1878-1974) was born in Bremen, the eldest son of Senator Dr Johann Focke, founder of the Focke Museum in Bremen. He was a brilliant aircraft pioneer and constructed and piloted the first plane to fly in Germany.  While he went on to pursue an artistic career, his younger brother Prof. Dr. Heinrich Focke became the co-founder of the aircraft company Focke-Wulf.

After the unexpected death of his long-term partner in the 1990's, a considerable archive of paintings and drawings were discovered in a previously unknown store.  Many of these 'hidden' paintings and drawings had a home-erotic theme.  This webpage contains a selection of his drawings.

In his youth he enthusiastically aided his father to search out and collect objects of cultural and historical interest in Bremen and its hinterland.  These formed the basis of the Focke Museum collection.

Focke studied art in Dusseldorf and Munich after leaving High School in 1896.  After finishing military service he studied further in Weimar and Berlin.  between 1903 and 1913 he was closely attached to Max Liebermann, who made it possible for him to have his first exhibition at Paul Cassiere's Kunstsalon.  His exhibition of horse paintings was a sell-out.  Focke was close friends with Oscar Kokoshka, max Slevogt, Olaf Gulbranson and Hans Thoma who were artistically active in Berlin at this time.

His friendships within Berlin;s artistic world and his early fame as the first German aviator may have been the reason for his connection with the art circle of the "Brucke".  His affinity to the Brucke painters influenced his early creative processes.  The naked body became more central to his art.

He drew and painted friends and acquaintances in the open air and liked to depict them in connection with his beloved horses (the banner at the top of the webpage contains one of his 'horse' paintings).  His painting style developed away from the academic towards a more natural representation of the human body.  Placing a dynamic body in natural surroundings became one of his favourite themes.

Thumbnail image: 'A Boy on the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'A Boy on the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£200 GBP
(€234 EUR)
($254 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Handstand Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Handstand Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£250 GBP
(€293 EUR)
($318 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Three Boys with Waterpots' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Three Boys with Waterpots' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£250 GBP
(€293 EUR)
($318 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Beach Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Beach Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£450 GBP
(€527 EUR)
($572 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Two Boys in the Waves' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Two Boys in the Waves' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£325 GBP
(€380 EUR)
($413 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Figure Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Figure Studies' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£275 GBP
(€322 EUR)
($349 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Leaning on a Bannister' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Leaning on a Bannister' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£160 GBP
(€187 EUR)
($203 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'The Lion and the Boy' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'The Lion and the Boy' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£150 GBP
(€176 EUR)
($191 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Bathing at the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Bathing at the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£360 GBP
(€421 EUR)
($457 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Water for the Dogs' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Water for the Dogs' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
SOLD
£390 GBP
(€456 EUR)
($495 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Running Youth' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Running Youth' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£140 GBP
(€164 EUR)
($178 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Boys on the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Boys on the Beach' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£360 GBP
(€421 EUR)
($457 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'In the Bathhouse' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'In the Bathhouse' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£360 GBP
(€421 EUR)
($457 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Warrior' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Warrior' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£140 GBP
(€164 EUR)
($178 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Wading Figure' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Wading Figure' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£360 GBP
(€421 EUR)
($457 USD)
Thumbnail image: 'Posing Figures' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
'Posing Figures' by Wilhelm Heinrich Focke
£200 GBP
(€234 EUR)
($254 USD)