Lisbeth Zwerger
Lisbeth Zwerger (born 26 May 1954) is an Austrian illustrator of children's books. For her "lasting contribution to children's literature" she received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1990. She studied 1971 to 1974 at the Applied Arts Academy of Vienna, but left before completing the course of studies.
Lisbeth Zwerger
- Name
- Lisbeth Zwerger
- Born
- 26 May 1954
- Birthplace
- Vienna, Austria
- Education
- Applied Arts Academy of Vienna
- Known for
- Illustrator
- Spouse
- John Rowe
- Nationality
- Austria
- Occupation
- writer · illustrator · painter · graphic artist
- Honours
- Golden Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria · Hans Christian Andersen Award · Großer Preis der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur e.V. Volkach · Silver Brush · Wildweibchenpreis · Austrian Art Prize for Children's and Youth Literature
- Languages
- German
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Documentary summary
Lisbeth Zwerger (born 26 May 1954) is an Austrian illustrator of children's books. For her "lasting contribution to children's literature" she received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1990. She studied 1971 to 1974 at the Applied Arts Academy of Vienna, but left before completing the course of studies.
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Authority files
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In this article
Biography
Biography
She married English artist John Rowe. Since the publication of her first illustrated book in 1977 she has worked as a freelance picture book illustrator in Vienna, specializing in fairy tales. Michael Neugebauer Verlag published Zwerger's first book, Das Fremde Kind in 1977. Zwerger continued to work with Neugebauer, who also occasionally contributed to the lettering and book design. Her style is similar to that of English illustrators of the 19th century and she acknowledges being influenced by the work of Arthur Rackham.
Lisbeth Zwerger studied at University of Applied Arts Vienna. The recorded working language is German. Distinctions recorded are Golden Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria, Hans Christian Andersen Award, Großer Preis der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur e.V. Volkach and Silver Brush.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Lisbeth Zwerger • Born — 26 May 1954 • Birthplace — Vienna, Austria • Education — Applied Arts Academy of Vienna • Known for — Illustrator • Style — Children's books • Spouse — John Rowe
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Zwerger's work has been exhibited worldwide. • Salzburg Toy Museum, 1979 • Klingspor Museum/Offenbach, 1983 • Otani Memorial Art Museum/Nishinomiya, 1987 • Sembikiya Gallery/Tokyo, 1987 • Sano Gallery/Mishima, 1987 • Museo Civico, Bologna, 1990 • Paris Espace Saint-Ouen (Salon du livre de jeunesse), 1991 • Bratislava (BIB), 1991 • International Book Fair/Taipei, 1992 • Franz Meier Museum/Mexico City, 1993
Published books
• E.T.A. Hoffmann, "The Strange Child", 1977 • Clemens Brentano, "The Legend of Rosepedal", 1978 • Brothers Grimm, "Hansel and Gretel", 1979 • E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Nutcracker and Mouseking", 1979 (first version) • Hans Christian Andersen, "Thumbelina", 1980 • Brothers Grimm, "The Seven Ravens". 1981 • Hans Christian Andersen, "The Swineherd", 1982 • O.Henry, "The Gift of the Magi", 1982 • Brothers Grimm, Le Petit Chaperon Rouge ("Little Red Cap"), 11 full page colour illustrations, 1983. • Oscar Wilde, Le Géant égoïste ("The Selfish Giant"), Casterman, 1984. • Hans Christian Andersen, "The Nightingale", 1984 • Edith Nesbit, "The Deliverers of their country", 1985 • Oscar Wilde. "The Canterville Ghost, 1986 • Charles Dickens, Un Chant de Noël ("A Christmas Carol"), Casterman, 1988. • Aesop, Fables, Duculot, 1989. • Till L'Espiègle ("Till Eulenspiegel"), Duculot, 1990. • Hans Christian Andersen, Fairy Tales, 1991. • Christian Morgenstern, "Gallows Songs",1992 • Wilhelm Hauff, "Dwarf Nose", 1993 • "The Art of Lisbeth Zwerger" (collection of Illustrations 1977–1993), 1993 • Theodor Storm, "Little Hobbin", 1995 • Frank L. Baum, "The wizard of Oz", 1996 • Heinz Janisch L'Arche de Noé ("Noah's Ark"), Nord-Sud, 1997. • Lewis Carroll, Alice au pays des merveilles ("Alice in Wonderland"), Nord-Sud, 1999. • "The Bible", 2000 • Rudyard Kipling "How the Camel got his Hump", 2001 • Peter I. Tchaikowsky-Lisbeth Zwerger "Swanlake". 2002 • E.T.A. Hoffmann, "Nutcracker", 2003 (second version) • Hans Christian Andersen, "The Little Mermaid", 2004 • Clement C. Moore, "The Night before Christmas", 2005 • Brothers Grimm, "The BremenTown Musicians", 2006 • Jurg Amann, "Leonce and Lena", 2014 • J. K. Rowling, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", 2018
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Lisbeth Zwerger:<i>Children's Book Illustrator</i>, Childhood Education, 1992
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1992
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q85025: Lisbeth Zwerger
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 16082160-5, Wanderausstellung The World of Imagination von Lisbeth Zwerger (2010-2011 : Troisdorf u.a.).
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Awards
The biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award conferred by the International Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children's books. Zwerger received the illustration award in 1990. She has also been honored at the Bologna International Children's Book Fair and the Biennial of Illustrators at Bratislava. She won a Silver Brush in 2000 for her illustration of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. • Österreichischer Kunstpreis - Kinder- und Jugendliteratur, 1998 • H.C. Andersen Prize "Mit Livs Eventyr", 2011. • Großer Preis 2012, awarded by Die Deutsche Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur. • Rattenfänger-Literaturpreis 1994
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Institutional witnessInstitutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q85025: Lisbeth ZwergerWikimedia Foundation
Institutional witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 16082160-5, Wanderausstellung The World of Imagination von Lisbeth Zwerger (2010-2011 : Troisdorf u.a.).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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