Carl Hentschel facts for kids

Carl Hentschel (born March 27, 1864 – died January 9, 1930) was a talented British artist, photographer, printer, inventor, and businessman. He developed special ways to print illustrations, especially his "Hentschel Colourtype Process." This method used three colors and completely changed how pictures were printed in newspapers. Carl Hentschel was also the inspiration for the character "Harris" in the famous book Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome.

Early Life and Learning

Carl Hentschel was born in Łódź, which is now part of Poland, on March 27, 1864. At that time, Łódź was part of the Russian Empire. His father, August Hentschel, was an engraver, someone who carves designs into metal or wood.

When Carl was five years old, his family moved to Britain. He went to school in Eastbourne. At 14, he started working with his father, learning the family business. Carl helped his father photograph drawings onto wood. His father had also invented a way to print pictures onto zinc metal.

A Career in Printing

Carl Hentschel was known for working very quickly. In 1900, he mentioned that if he could finish a printing block in just 24 hours, it would be big news! He also remembered a time in 1879 when it took almost a year to reproduce some old engravings for a book. Today, that same work could be done in about a week.

Inventing Colourtype

Carl Hentschel invented the "Colourtype Process," which was named after him. This invention was a huge step forward in printing. The Times newspaper said that he "made the first process block, which brought about a revolution in newspaper illustration." This means his invention made it much easier and faster to print pictures in newspapers.

He started his first company, Carl Hentschel Co., in 1887. Then, in 1899, he created a second company called Carl Hentschel Colourtype Company. This company used his special three-color printing method. This new technique was used to print Beatrix Potter's famous book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, in 1902.

Carl Hentschel Co. was a very important company for printing pictures in Britain. It was located on Fleet Street in London, which was a famous area for newspapers and printing.

Working with Famous Artists

Hentschel's company printed illustrations for many famous artists and writers. These included Aubrey Beardsley and Oscar Wilde, especially for Wilde's play Salome in 1894. Carl Hentschel, Oscar Wilde, and Aubrey Beardsley were known to be good friends and worked together often. His company also helped create an illustrated book about the Slade School of Fine Art in 1907.

Newspapers praised Hentschel's speed and skill. In 1902, Printing World noted that his company finished 65 large pages of drawings for two magazines in just three days! The Sketch magazine said in 1906 that his company could provide urgent engravings in "A FEW HOURS."

Carl Hentschel is remembered for "revolutionising the means of newspaper illustration." He did more than anyone else in England to improve how pictures were printed. His work was even featured in a book about modern illustration in 1895.

During the First World War (around 1915), some people thought Carl Hentschel's company was German because of his name. This caused his business to lose some customers.

As a photographer, Carl Hentschel won a gold medal at the big Paris Exhibition in 1900.

Friendship with Jerome K. Jerome

Carl Hentschel met the famous writer Jerome K. Jerome and his friend George Wingrave at the theatre. They became good friends and, around 1883, they started a literary club called the Old Vagabonds' Club with some other men. Jerome K. Jerome based the character "Harris" in his popular book Three Men in a Boat on Carl Hentschel.

Personal Life and Interests

Carl Hentschel married Bertha Posener in 1889. He often said that marrying her was the smartest thing he ever did, as her support helped him through his early struggles. They had children, including Irene Hentschel (1891–1979), who became a famous theatre director. She was the first woman to direct a Shakespeare play at the Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare Festival. Their son, Christopher Carl Hentschel (born 1899), became a university lecturer in zoology.

People described Carl Hentschel as a very energetic and persuasive person. He loved going to the theatre and said he had attended almost every first show in London. He helped start the Playgoers' Club in 1883. Later, he started another club called the Old Playgoers' or O.P. Club. He also edited a magazine called Newspaper Illustration.

Carl Hentschel was active in public life, especially in the City of London. He was a member of the Court of Common Council (a local government body) from 1901 to 1921. He worked on issues like changing how aldermen (city officials) were elected. He also served as the Chair of the Guildhall School of Music and President of the City of London's Tradesmens' Club.

He was a strong supporter of women's suffrage, which was the movement for women to get the right to vote. His company even advertised in a suffrage magazine and printed materials for the Artists' Suffrage League. His wife, Bertha Hentschel, was also very involved in the suffrage movement. Carl Hentschel himself wrote to The Times newspaper in 1908 to protest how women suffragists were being treated.