Karl Jacob Hirsch

Karl Jacob Hirsch was active in the arts between 1915 and 1919. The body of his documented output focuses on contributions to avant-garde periodicals during the politically and artistically tumultuous World War I era.

Works by Hirsch represented in museum collections are exclusively issues of the influential German journal, Die Aktion. Documented contributions include five specific issues spanning four years of the journal’s run: Die Aktion, vol. 5, no. 11/12 and vol. 5, no. 18/19 (1915), vol. 6, no. 24/25 (1916), vol. 7, no. 49/50 (1917), and vol. 9, no. 20 (1919). This tight chronology documents Hirsch’s consistent engagement with experimental literary and visual culture throughout his primary documented period of activity.

Hirsch’s materials are preserved in prestigious institutions, notably the Museum of Modern Art. While the primary records are tied to periodical contributions rather than traditional Karl Jacob Hirsch paintings, the historical importance of the journals contributes to their value. As these works age and enter the public domain, the creation of high-quality prints allows for broader scholarly access to the period’s graphic design and political discourse.