Carl (“Karl”) Edmund Walser
* 8. 4. 1877, † 28. 9. 1943
Painter, stage designer, book illustrator

Apprenticeship as a décor painter 1894-1896 in Stuttgart, then attends the Straßburger Kunstgewerbeschule (1896/1897) and works for the Munich décor painter Adolf Lentner (spring 1898). Definitive move to Berlin at the end of May 1899, from 1901 first successes with book illustrations (e.g. for the publishers Bruno Cassirer, S. Fischer, Georg Müller, Insel) and exhibitions (1902 membership, later board member of the Berlin Secession). Works as a stage and costume designer for theatre and opera productions in Berlin (especially by Max Reinhardt and Hans Gregor), also takes on an increasing number of private commissions for murals. Marries Hedwig “Trude” Czarnetzki in January 1910; the marriage remains childless. Between 1917 and 1921, and from 1925 onwards, he settles in Zurich, where he works successfully as a fresco and mural painter, among other things.
Initially very close personal and artistic relationship with Robert Walser, with whom he lived several times (1895/1896 in Stuttgart; October 1897 to January 1898 in Zurich; April 1905 to summer 1907 in Berlin) and for whom he provided access to Berlin artistic circles. Produces the cover drawings for eleven of his brother's books, five of which he also illustrates with drawings or vignettes. From the 1910s onwards, personal distance between the brothers and disputes over the illustration of the books. Refuses to pay a share of the maintenance costs for his interned brother after Robert Walser's transfer to Herisau.

Literary traces in Der Teich (written in 1902); Leben eines Dichters (1905); Geschwister Tanner (Kaspar Tanner) (1907); Die Buben Weibel (1908); Jakob von Gunten (Johann von Gunten) (1909); An den Bruder (1914); Geschwister Tanner (1914); Karls Ritterschlacht (1915); Brief eines Malers an einen Dichter (1915); Leben eines Malers (1916); Kleines Landstraßenerlebnis (1916); Die Brüder (1916); Maler, Poet und Dame (1917); “Felix”-Szenen (Adelbert) (written in 1925); Kronleuchter bildeten (written in 1925); Die Geschichte von den beiden Reisenden (1926); Brief an einen Entwickelten (written around 1926/1927).

From: Robert Walser-Handbuch, ed. by Lucas Marco Gisi, 2015, p. 17