Walter Gutbrod

Walter Gutbrod (* July 5, 1908, in Zuffenhausen; † June 6, 1998, in Ludwigsburg) was a German painter in the style of expressive realism. He was active as an artist (painter) for over 70 years and worked simultaneously as an art educator for nearly 50 years, predominantly in the Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg area.

Born as an only child, Gutbrod began an intense artistic engagement with his environment at the age of 12, which is documented in his diaries. He studied from 1927 to 1932 at the Stuttgart Academy under professors Spiegel, Breyer, Habich, Graf, and Eckener. After passing his teaching qualification in 1932, he moved to Duisburg, where he worked as a teacher at a private institute.

Later, he returned to his hometown and married Lydia Siegel, the daughter of a livestock trader, on December 28, 1933, civilly, and on January 6, 1934, religiously. This marriage, which was never divorced despite a later separation, produced two daughters, Linde and Regine. From April 1, 1935, Gutbrod served as the administrative officer at the Katharinenstift Stuttgart and taught art at the Schiller and Mörike Gymnasium in Ludwigsburg from 1937 to 1979.

In 1940, he became a teacher at the gymnasium in Korntal and resided in Ludwigsburg from 1943. Despite reaching retirement age, he retired in 1979 and intensified his artistic work. His last dated painting was created on March 14, 1998, and he passed away on June 6, 1998, in Ludwigsburg.

Walter Gutbrod was also a passionate music enthusiast and performed as a pianist in public. His diaries and sketchbooks are filled with notes about musical pieces and composers, and many of his paintings were signed with a characteristic “three-note” signature. He maintained connections with various cultural figures, including Oskar Schlemmer, with whom he was in contact from 1938, and the renowned pianist Wilhelm Kempff. After the war, he actively participated in establishing the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra and developed a long friendship with the Münchinger family. Gutbrod was also involved in the founding of the Ludwigsburg Castle Festival and had connections with artists like Gustav Schleicher and Willi Baumeister. He was a member of the Stuttgart Secession.