Kunsthandel Hieke was able to present a large collection of his works as early as 1987. Today, his mainly small-scale paintings and water colors are viewed as rarities.
Figurative depictions were his passion. Hagel’s themes largely stem from everyday life but also from mythology and social criticism, which he mostly interprets humorously. Caricature is one of his mediums, as evidenced by a portrait of Karl Kraus giving a talk (Vienna Museum).
Until 1909, the artist studied at the Vienna Academy and then at the Munich Academy under Julius Diez. From 1913 onwards, he illustrated several books, including for the publishing house Artur Wolf Verlag, as well as magazines, such as “Die Jugend [Youth]”.
In addition, Hagel cooperated with the architect Prof. Paul Ludwig Troost to design several luxury cruise ships for the overseas business of the Bremen-based company Lloyd, including “Europa”, “Berlin”, “Sierra Ventana” and “Columbus”. He also worked for the “Münchner Vereinigte Werkstätten [United Workshops in Munich]”, which, similar to the “Wiener Werkstätte [Vienna Workshop]” aimed at a synthesis of arts and crafts. In 1925, he took part in the exhibition “30 Münchner Künstler [30 Artists from Munich]” at the Kunstverein Munich.
The artist returned to Vienna in 1930, where he was very successful until 1938. In later years, he withdrew from the public eye and worked only in seclusion.
Works at:
Vienna Museum
