Marie Wolf / City of Leipzig / Katharina Kippenberg – Portrait

Marie Wolf was commissioned by the City of Leipzig to create an illustrated postcard introducing readers to Katharina Kippenberg: an influential editor, literary figure and one of the defining personalities behind Leipzig’s Insel Verlag. With only a small number of historical photographs of Kippenberg and the former publishing house available, the project required a careful reconstruction from limited visual references. Rather than reproducing the restrained black-and-white imagery associated with her time, Marie created a contemporary portrait in bold, luminous colours, bringing Kippenberg’s story into the present. Combining expressive shapes, tactile textures and a vibrant palette, the illustration creates a deliberate contrast between historical subject matter and contemporary visual language. The result is an accessible and engaging portrait that celebrates a woman whose contribution to publishing and Leipzig’s literary history often remained behind the scenes.

Art Director: Susanne Freiwald