Rotraut Susanne Berner: Germany ⋆ Illustrator

Rotraut Susanne Berner was born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1948, and studied graphic design at the Munich University of Applied Sciences in her young adulthood. Since beginning her career as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator in 1977, Berner has become one of the most celebrated and respected children's illustrators in Germany. She has illustrated over eighty children's books, some of which she has written herself, and has designed close to eight hundred book covers. Her main interest lies in wordless picture books, and she accommodates her very young readers by telling captivating and intricate stories through rich, detailed illustrations.

Berner's style has become a benchmark among German illustrators, making her a common name in art and illustration circles, and she has set new standards for illustration and design. Her use of various shapes and color allows her to strike a balance between realism and fantasy, solemnity and light-heartedness. Berner has a flair for incorporating multiple perspectives into her work, and creates a visual realm where fish fly, houses float, and size does not matter. Her technique varies between many artistic forms—pen and ink, heavy brushstrokes, thick line work in contrast with rich colour, flast screen printing—and while she does assert herself as somewhat of an artistic chameleon, she maintains a recognizable style that shines through in her work. Her passion for wordless picture books means that she pays close attention to detail, incorporating as much narrative features in her crafted images as possible. Her art primarily tells a story, and grounds her young readers in a world of wonder that is not too removed from their own everyday lives.

Since the beginning of her career, Berner's artwork has gained much interest in the way of awards and distinctions. She earned her first award, the Celestino-Piatti Prize for book graphic design, in 1983, and since then has been nominated for many awards. She is active in the children's illustration community, and co-founded the Illustratoren Treffpunkt [Illustrator's Meeting] at the Frankfurt Bookfair in the 1990s. She remains dedicated to children's book illustration, and continues to inspire her young readers with her meticulous and enchanting picture books.