Gertrud Caspari

Gertrud Caspari (22 March 1873 – 7 June 1948) was one of the most important German children's book illustrators in the first half of the 20th century, and is recognised as the creator of a "modern toddler" or "Caspari" style.

Early life and education Gertrud Caspari was born in Chemnitz on 22 March 1873 After the death of her father in 1888, the family moved to Dresden in 1894. and then studied at the Dresden School of Applied Arts from 1895 to 1898, training to be a teacher. However, she fell seriously ill in 1897 from Graves' disease,

Caspari is considered the creator of a "modern toddler style", which is also referred to as "Caspari style". The children at "Waldhöhe" and other stories (Die Kinder auf "Waldhöhe" und andere Erzählungen) (1937)

Death and legacy

Shortly before her death, she moved back to Dresden. Caspari died on 7 June 1948, in a hospital in Dresden-Klotzsche, of complications from a middle ear operation. Her grave is located in the New Cemetery in Dresden-Klotzsche.

In 1954, a street in Klotzsche was named after Gertrud Caspari. Her home on the Königsbrücker Landstraße 3 has been preserved. In 1998, a memorial plaque was placed on the house commemorating the well-known former resident. In addition, a primary school in the district bears the name Gertrud Caspari.