When does the workshop take place?

The workshop takes place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.

Where is the event taking place?

The event is taking place in the seminar room of the Bamberg State Library at Neue Residenz, Domplatz 8, 96049 Bamberg.

What is the cost of participation?

Participation in the workshop is free of charge.

Is registration required?

Yes, due to the limited number of participants, registration is required starting September 14, 2026, by calling 0951 95503-121.

What content does the workshop convey?

Stephan Klenner-Otto explains the creation of an etching and the technique of intaglio printing through practical examples.

Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?

The Bamberg State Library has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Experience how Hoffmann's fantasy becomes visible as an etching under the printing press

Name: From Plate to Print: How an Etching is Created for E. T. A. Hoffmann
Start: 2026-11-05T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-05T19:30:00+01:00
Location: Staatsbibliothek Bamberg in der Neuen Residenz

When Literature Takes Shape Under the Printing Press

How does a literary fantasy turn into an etching? The artist Stephan Klenner-Otto opens a view into the creation of his graphic works relating to E. T. A. Hoffmann on November 5, 2026, at the Bamberg State Library. The free, one-and-a-half-hour workshop combines art observation, literary history, and practical insights into the technique of intaglio printing.

The Etching as a Medium Between Drawing and Storytelling

For Stephan Klenner-Otto, literature and drawing are inseparably connected. His visual worlds arise from observations of nature as well as from the texts of E. T. A. Hoffmann and Jean Paul. The focus is on the subtle, fragile, and bizarre—elements that also characterize Hoffmann's romantic fantasy.

In the seminar room of the Bamberg State Library, Klenner-Otto explains through practical examples how an etching is created. The examination of the work leads from the prepared plate through the color application to the printing process, making the artisan decisions behind the finished sheet comprehensible.

Insights Into the Technique of Intaglio Printing

The etching thrives on lines, depressions, and finely graduated tonal values. Unlike a mere reproduction, each print carries the traces of the material and the manual process within it. The aesthetic experience arises from the interplay of drawing, printing plate, paper, ink, and print pressure.

The workshop therefore not only imparts artistic technical knowledge but also cultural education: Participants experience how a literary motif transforms into an independent visual language. The exhibition atmosphere of the State Library with its historical collections provides a particularly fitting backdrop for this.

Stephan Klenner-Otto and E. T. A. Hoffmann

The artist, born in 1959 in Kulmbach, completed an apprenticeship as a draftsman and printer. His encounter with the etcher and draftsman Caspar Walter Rauh, where he learned his craft, was formative. Since 1976, Klenner-Otto has presented his works in exhibitions and developed a distinctive visual language between fantasy, grotesque, and physiognomic character study.

To Hoffmann's stories, he created graphics and illustrations, including for Rat Krespel, The Sandman, The Golden Pot, and The Devil's Elixirs. Freely imagined heads, mysterious figures, and grotesque physiognomies reflect his affinity for romantic imagination. For his artistic work, he has received, among other honors, the Cultural Promotion Award of the Kulmbach District and in 2015 the Cultural Prize of the Upper Franconia Foundation.

Accompanying Program for the Exhibition E. T. A. Hoffmann Global

The workshop complements the exhibition E. T. A. Hoffmann Global: Border Crossings of Fantasy, which can be seen from September 14 to December 5, 2026, at the Bamberg State Library. The presentation showcases illustrations, artist graphics, illustrated editions, elaborately designed book covers, and modern adaptations of Hoffmann's work. Some works by Klenner-Otto are also part of the exhibition.

The event is aimed at art enthusiasts, literature lovers, and anyone interested in experiencing print graphics up close. The limited number of participants requires prior registration.

Conclusion: An Artistic Experience Between Fantasy and Craft

From the first line to the finished print, the evening offers an immediate encounter with the art of etching. Visitors can expect well-founded insights, sensual material experiences, and an in-depth perspective on the visual worlds of E. T. A. Hoffmann. Anyone wishing to experience the connection between literature, painting, drawing, and print graphics live should not miss this free workshop at the Bamberg State Library.