Although Heino Jaeger chiefly built a reputation as a successful satirist during his lifetime, few people are aware of his artistic work. Born in Hamburg-Harburg in 1938, Jaeger tried his hand at various activities before going on to study art in 1956. Alongside his visual creations, he soon began to develop an artistic approach to language. Stage performances, radio features, and his first LP laid the foundation for his growing popularity during the 1970s. His exhibitions were followed by stage shows and TV appearances.

Since early youth Jaeger had been drawing portraits and caricatures inspired by what he saw around him, and he continued to create paintings and graphic works even during the final years of his life. Jaeger’s seemingly everyday scenes are tinged by ironic and bizarre overtones. His often exaggerated figures, sometimes mutated or mechanized, are indicative of his highly subjective view of the world, which even appears sinister at times. This enigmatic and grotesque extravagance is strongly reminiscent of the work of Hieronymus Bosch and the latter’s satirical, highly fantastical genre painting, which Jaeger greatly admired.

With more than 500 pictures and numerous essays, this catalog offers profound insights into Heino Jaeger’s works and provides a fascinating overview of his visual oeuvre. It complements Rocko Schamoni’s book “Der Jaeger und sein Meister” and in turn relies on extensive research on Heino Jaeger.