1917-1921 trains as a machinist. 1922-1925 studies at the school of applied arts in Offenbach. 1926-1930 pupil of Max Beckmann at the Städel School, Frankfurt am Main. 1938 stay in Paris with Hanna Bekker vom Rath. 1947 directs the drawing class at the Städel's evening school. 1956-1965 director of the drawing class at the Kunsthochschule in Hamburg. Numerous travels in Provence and Italy.