Oscar Han

Oscar Han studied at Bucharest National University of Arts. Training under Frederic Storck and Dimitrie Paciurea is recorded. Boris Caragea, Gheorghe Ghițescu and Ion Lucian Murnu are recorded as having studied under Oscar Han. The recorded working language is Romanian. The field of work recorded is art of sculpture. Employment is recorded with Bucharest National University of Arts. Distinctions recorded are Order of Cultural Merit 1st Class and Honored Master of Arts.

• Name — Oscar Han • Born — 3 December 1891 • Birthplace — Bucharest, Romania • Died — 14 February 1976 • Place of death — Bucharest, Romania • Education — National University of Arts • Occupation — Sculptor

Han was born in Bucharest on 3 December 1891 to a father of German origin and a mother from Vrancea. From 1909 to 1914, he studied sculpture and drawing at the Academy of Arts in Bucharest (now the National University of Arts) under Dimitrie Paciurea and Frederick Storck. He made his debut in 1911 with the sculpture "Bust of a Girl". Later, Han would return to his alma mater as a professor of sculpture, a post he occupied from 1927 to 1944, and again in 1956. During the First World War, Han was one of several artists commissioned to create works commemorating Romania's armed forces. In the interwar period, he formed the Group of Four ("Grupul celor patru") artists' collective together with painters Nicolae Tonitza, Francisc Șirato and Ștefan Dimitrescu. Not defined by a strict artistic philosophy, the Group of Four was bound mainly by friendship and collaboration. Han was also politically active. Briefly associated with Nichifor Crainic's right-wing journal Gândirea, Han would later write for Pamfil Șeicaru's Curentul as a cultural critic and polemicist. He served as deputy for the National Liberal Party in Mureș from 1934-1937. Han was accused of Freemasonry in December 1940 by the new National Legionary State (a fascist government led by the Iron Guard and Ion Antonescu). He denied these charges, but resigned from the government's Fine Arts Union. After the Second World War, Han was briefly barred from working due to accusations of sympathy towards the Iron Guard (an accusation possibly exacerbated by a bust he sculpted in 1928 of Iron Guard philosopher Nae Ionescu). However, Han was quickly rehabilitated, and was awarded a number of distinctions by the new communist regime, including the titles "Master Emeritus of Art" (1961), "First Class Order of Labour" (1971), and "Star of the Socialist Republic of Romania" (1972).

Han is mainly known for his statues and busts of Romanian historical figures. His portraits include the Monument to Ferdinand I in Chișinău (now in the Republic of Moldova), several busts of famous authors in Bucharest's Herăstrău Park (including William Shakespeare and Alexandru Vlahuță), the monuments to Mihai Eminescu in Cluj-Napoca, Constanța, and Oradea, the statue of Anghel Saligny in Constanța, the monument to Mircea the Elder in Turnu Măgurele, and the monument to Michael the Brave in Alba Iulia. His works were exhibited mainly in Bucharest, but also at Romanian art exhibitions and international exhibitions in other European cities.

Oscar Han is recorded as having received Order of Cultural Merit 1st Class and Honored Master of Arts. Career and activity. Han worked in art of sculpture. His work is associated with Fine Arts Union and Tinerimea artistică. He was employed by Bucharest National University of Arts.