Arnold Kübler
Editor-in-Chief of the Zürcher Illustrierte
In office 1929–1941
Editor-in-Chief of Du
In office 1941–1958
Personal details
Born	2 August 1890 Wiesendangen, Zürich
Died	27 December 1983 Zürich

Arnold Kübler (2 August 1890 - 27 December 1983) was a Swiss journalist and writer. He was the editor-in-chief of the Zürcher Illustrierte and of the cultural magazine Du. In his later career, he also acted as a one-man cabaret.

Education and early life

Kübler was born on the 2 August 1890 in Wiesendangen, Canton Zurich to a farmer. He attended high school in Winterthur ^[1] and from 1911 onwards studied geology at the University of Zurich and University of Delft. ^[2] He gave up his studied in 1917 and unsuccessfully attempted to become a sculptor. ^[1] Then he began to draw ,eventually turning to writing and becoming an actor at the Theater in Zürich. ^[3] In an attempt to enhance his German, he went to Germany ^[3] and after World War I was engaged as an actor in Görlitz, ^[2] Dresden and Berlin. ^[1] This acting career came to a sudden end when a surgery left disfiguring scars on his face. ^{[1] [3]} However, the years of apprenticeship and travel were followed by clear continuity in creativity and recognition of work. ^[1] In 1922, Kübler had his first literary success with the play Schuster Aiolos, which premiered in Potsdam. ^[1]

Professional career

After his return to Switzerland in 1926, ^[2] he was appointed editor-in-chief of the Zürcher Illustrierte in 1929, ^{[4] [5]} which under his lead developed into a respected literary and photographic magazine. ^[6] He was convinced that a photograph can also be a vehicle of a message ^[6] and worked with prominent photographers Paul Senn or Gotthard Schuh. ^[7] In the literary section works by Hermann Hesse or Max Frisch were included. ^[7] In 1941, Conzett & Huber decided to sell the «Zürcher Illustrierte» and publish a new magazine with which they planned to promote the multi-color print they have developed. ^[8] Arnold Kübler became the editor-inchief of the newly founded cultural magazine "Du", which he ran for 16 years. ^[1] Under Küblers leadership the Du became a well respected cultural magazine, employed prominent photographers like before also the Zürcher Illustrierte and focused on painters like Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro or Paul Klee. ^[2] In the 1960s he returned to the theater stage with great success as a one-man cabaret. ^[1]

Literary career

In 1934 his first novel "Failed Actor", a piece about a Swiss actor who attempts to speak a pure German language was published. ^[4] He is also well known for the autobiographically inspired Öppi novels. ^[1] In addition, Kübler was active in drawing and writing. ^[1] He combined these two forms especially in his late works, such as in the workshop book Draw, Antonio! of 1966 or in Paris-Bâle à pied in 1967. ^[1] Paris-Bâle à pied is an account about his wandering on foot from Basel to Paris in twenty-eight days. ^[3]

Awards and recognition

1954 Carl Heinrich Ernst Art Prize ^[9]

1963 Literary prize of the City of Zürich ^[2]

1981 Honorary citizen of Wiesendangen ^[2]

1991 Du issue on Arnold Kübler for the 50 years anniversary of the Du ^[10]

Personal life

Arnold Kübler married Alva Carolina Fredrika Gierzt in 1927 and was the father of a daughter. ^[2] He died on 27 December 1983 in Zurich. ^[2]

References