Alfred Gustav Christian Roloff (19 March 1879,Lassan - 7 December 1951,Rade bei Rendsburg) was a German artist and illustrator; best known for hisdime novel covers and paintings of horses.[1]
He was born to Wilhelm Roloff (1850–1936), a naval officer, and his wife Caroline née Sadewasser (1855–1924). His younger brother, Otto (1882-1972), also became a painter and art professor. In 1886, the family moved toHamburg. From 1896 to 1901, he attended theAcademy of Arts, Berlin.
Upon graduating, he went to work as an illustrator for the publishers, Verlagshaus für Volksliteratur und Kunst, also in Berlin. They were a very prolific organization, flooding the European market with light entertainment and quickly produced works of fiction, known as "dime novels". Other publishers soon noticed his talent. In 1905, he took part in a competition for advertising designs, jointly sponsored byHenkell & Co. Sektkellerei andStollwerck. His design was recommended for purchase by the judges, for the sum of 200Marks. His success brought him further employment; designing book covers that were reproduced by the millions. In 1908, he was able to marry his fiancée, Auguste Schröder.
He was also ananimal painter, primarily of horses, in dynamic scenes, featuring them in motion; often running from some danger. DuringWorld War I, he produced battle scenes with horses. These put his name before the general public, more than his covers, and what he is best remembered for today.
During theNazi dictatorship, he was a member of theReichskammer der bildenden Künste [de] (Chamber of Fine Arts) and was able to continue working. From 1940 to 1944, he was represented at theGroße Deutsche Kunstausstellung in theHaus der Kunst in Munich. For many years, his paintingFlüchtende Pferde (Fleeing Horses), hung inHitler's office at theNeue Reichskanzlei [de].[2]Alfred Rosenberg was an admirer of his painting,Fohlenzwillinge {Foal Twins)“.[3]
At the height of his recognition, in 1942, he had an affair with Elisabeth von Trotta, fromCourland. Their union produced a daughter, the filmmaker and author,Margarethe von Trotta.[4] As the war approached Berlin, he moved toWarthegau. In 1945, he settled in Rade bei Rendsburg, where he died six years later.
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