Richard Klein
Richard Klein (January 7, 1890 – July 31, 1967) was a German artist, known for his work as a medallist from the start of World War I in 1914, and mainly for his work as a favoured artist of the Nazi regime. Klein was director of the Munich School of Applied Arts and was one of Adolf Hitler's favourite painters. Klein was one of the artists exhibited at the Große Deutsche Kunstausstellung (Great German Art Exhibition) held at the Haus der Kunst in Munich in 1937, meant as a contrast to the modern art condemned by the Third Reich as degenerate art (entartete Kunst).
Also recorded as R. Klein · Klein, Richard
Richard Klein
Joyofmuseums · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1890 · Munich.
- Died
- 1967 · Weßling.
- Nationality
- Germany
- Occupation
- sculptor · painter · university teacher · medalist · graphic artist · exlibrist · designer
- Languages
- German
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Richard Klein (January 7, 1890 – July 31, 1967) was a German artist, known for his work as a medallist from the start of World War I in 1914, and mainly for his work as a favoured artist of the Nazi regime. Klein was director of the Munich School of Applied Arts and was one of Adolf Hitler's favourite painters. Klein was one of the artists exhibited at the Große Deutsche Kunstausstellung (Great German Art Exhibition) held at the Haus der Kunst in Munich in 1937, meant as a contrast to the modern art condemned by the Third Reich as degenerate art (entartete Kunst).
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wikidata · Q2149963
In this article
Identity
Identity
Klein's work at the exhibition included plaques contributed from Hitler's private collection. The poster for the exhibition, Das Erwachen (The Awakening), was designed by Klein and also used as the front cover for the Nazi art periodical Die Kunst im Deutschen Reich (Art in the Third Reich). Klein also designed Nazi awards and decorations. These included, the Sudetenland Medal, Anschluss Medal, and Memel Medal, collectively known as the German Occupation Medals, plus the War Merit Medal and the Wehrmacht Long Service Award.
The recorded working language is German. Places of work recorded in the authority are Munich. Employment is recorded with Königliche Kunstgewerbeschule München. Work by Richard Klein is recorded in the collections of Bavarian State Painting Collections, Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein', Het Scheepvaartmuseum and Huis van het boek.
Richard Klein is recorded as sculptor, painter, university teacher, medalist and graphic artist. Recognition and collections.
Badge, 1 Mai 1936 circular form; top left legend; top right hammer, sword; middle left plough; bottom right eagle (spread winged) settled on oak leaves encircling swastika; pin fastening
Gustav Brehmer · Auckland Museum · API data Catalogue record Photo
Commemorative badge - Tag der Arbeit 1935 - Oval metal badge with three male figures representing an industrial figure, intellectual and farmer in centre and spread winged eagle below standing on oak wreathed swastika. Pin fastening.
Funcke Brüninghaus · Auckland Museum · API data Catalogue record Photo
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1890
Richard Klein born at Munich.
1967
Richard Klein died at Weßling.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Munich.
Birth place
Weßling.
Death place
Citations
References
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reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q2149963: Richard KleinWikimedia Foundation
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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