Franz Stassen Style

Franz Stassen (1869–1949) was a German painter and illustrator educated at the Berlin University of the Arts. Influenced by Jugendstil and symbolist artists like Max Klinger and Gustav Klimt, he is best known for his illustrations of Richard Wagner's works, particularly Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal. A close associate of Wagner's son Siegfried, Stassen was linked to the nationalistic Bayreuth Circle. His Wagner illustrations gained popularity in Wilhelmine Germany, foreshadowing the American comic book style. Additionally, he illustrated literary works, including The Brothers Grimm's Fairytales, Goethe's Faust, and Hans von Wolzogen's Die Edda.