Gadso Weiland
German, 1869-1915
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Gadso Friedrich Johannes Weiland was a German graphic artist and painter who lived in Arnis from 1903 until shortly before his death. He was an Art Nouveau artist who became known for his designs for the art weaving school in Scherrebek, his bookplate designs, and elements of book decoration.
Weiland was born on a farm near Pageroe on the Schlei. For health reasons, he had to interrupt his studies at the cathedral school in Schleswig and went to Hanover to apprentice as a decorative painter. In 1890/91 and 1896/97, he studied at the School of Applied Arts in Düsseldorf. He began working in the spirit of the emerging Art Nouveau style while still a student. 1896 saw not only the publication of the first issue of the magazine Jugend, but also the founding of an art weaving school in Scherrebek, North Schleswig, which immediately gained recognition throughout Germany. At the age of 26, Weiland was the most prolific artist at this production facility, with designs that were turned into tapestries.
In 1903, he moved with his wife Agnes Christine to Arnis, where they used an inheritance to buy the house at Lange Straße 65. As Weiland soon developed serious health problems, it was mainly his wife who supported the family financially.
In addition to his designs for textile tapestry, Weiland worked for the Hamburg foundry Genzsch und Heise, among others. He designed decorative letters, moldings, and other ornamental elements for book art that were very popular at the time. In 1908, for example, he collaborated with Julius Klinkhardt's type foundry and brass line factory to publish a volume on Toscana typefaces. He also illustrated fairy tales and children's books.
The third focus of his work was drawing bookplates. Since Agnes Weiland had learned how to make tapestries in the Scherrebek style in Kiel, she was able to continue working on her husband's designs after the production facility there closed.