SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

海因里希·克莱

The German artist Heinrich Kley (1863–1945) is a painter and illustrator. He was born in Karlsruhe on 15 April 1863. He studied applied arts at the Karlsruhe Academy and then completed his studies in Munich. His early works cover a wide range of subjects: portraits, landscapes, still lifes, urban scenes and historical paintings.

He became better known for his pen-and-ink drawings, in which a dark humour sometimes emerges, published in the periodicals Jugend and Simplicissimus. A collection bringing together his two published volumes of drawings was sold under the title Sammelalbum alter und neuer Zeichnungen (Album of Old and New Drawings). His work as an illustrator includes, in particular, an edition of the Vergils Aeneis, published in 1910, and Die Reiseschatten by Justinus Kerner, published in 1921 with original zinc drawings by Heinrich Kley.

Joe Grant is said to have introduced his drawings to Walt Disney, who assembled a private collection of them; their influence is also noted in several early Disney productions, including Fantasia.

This profile brings together identity references for 海因里希·克莱 and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

1 references are documented at Dobiaschofsky. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 1285

Head Work

Indian ink

Original catalogue wording

Kopfarbeit.
Tusche

Catalogue period : 2022-11-03

Published result : 1600 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 900

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Sources and references

• Reference record
• LoC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• Documentary source

SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19