
Walter Langhammer
Walter Langhammer was born in Austria in the year 1905. He escaped his native country to save himself
from Nazi persecution before WW II and would go on to become an integral part of the art movement
that took place in India post – independence. Before his migration to India he was a student of
renowned artist Oskar Kokoschka at the Viennese Academy.
His tryst with India surpasses the mere artist and nation connection since he was responsible for
supporting young artists of that time such as SH Raza, MF Husain, KH Ara & FN Souza to name a few. He
also was a common link between these artists and the influx of Jews in India. His artistic style was
influenced by his teacher Oskar Kokoschka’s ethics of representing the depicted landscape in pure and
fluent palette. He etched the essence of India’s blazing topography with a new found vigour of light and
shadow. The artist’s work are in the collection of several national and international collections such as
the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi & Tata Steel Corporate collection to name a few.
The artist passed away in the year 1977.;