Everyone knows what a "Hummel" is. These charming porcelain figures have been enormously coveted collector's items since the 1930s. But few people know the story of their creator, Berta Hummel, or as she is commonly known M. I. Hummel, and even fewer are aware of the artist's earlier works, which include the surprisingly unsentimental caricatures, sensitive portraits and idyllic landscapes she produced during her years as an art student in Munich. The accomplishments of the "other" Hummel are the focus of this colorful collection of more than 400 illustrations from the archives of the Berta Hummel Museum in Massing, Germany. An introductory essay by art historian Genovena Nitz and brief biography examine Hummel's entire body of work while a rare interview with Berta's sister, Centa, provides new insight into the popular artist's work. This volume offers Hummel fans a deeper appreciation of Berta Hummel's work, and yet another item to add to their collections.
