His Life
«Here the sun shines more intimately, the mountains glow with a deeper red, here chestnuts and grapes, almonds and figs are growing, the human beings are good, civilized, and friendly.…»
Hermann Hesse
Photo: Martin Hesse · © Martin Hesse Erben
Biography
Hermann Hesse was born in Calw (Baden-Württemburg) in 1877 and lived both in Germany and in Switzerland. He spent most of his life in Montagnola, Ticino, where he died at the age of 85.
«The role of the poet is not to point the way, but first and foremost to awaken nostalgia.»
Hermann Hesse
Photo: Martin Hesse · © Martin Hesse Erben
The Writer
Already at the age of thirteen, Hermann Hesse decided that he would become a writer. In 1946 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Today he is considered the most read german speaking writer of the 20th century and his works are translated in 60 languages.
The Painter
Already in 1916 Hermann Hesse undertook his first attempt at painting. After moving to the colourful landscape of Ticino in 1919, Hesse created thousands of chromatic, bright watercolours.
The Traveller
From 1901 until 1914 Hermann Hesse, both alone and with the company of some friends, undertook several travels to Italy. In 1911 he traveled, together with his friend and painter Hans Sturzenegger, in the «Indian Countries» Malaysia, Indonesia and Ceylon.