We were lucky to catch up with DDr. Ludwig Mohr recently and have shared our conversation below.
DDr. Ludwig , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission is to save the craftsmanship and teach students. I do that thorough the Book Institute — a nonprofit.
The Book Institute was founded out of necessity to a influx of Printmakers with Bachelors and Master Degrees from illustrious Places and Parents paying massive Amounts. Once I realized the Printmakers asking me to use my Press had no Foundation to stand on the Book Institute was born.
It is A Place to learn Printmaking on Copperplate and A Place to work in a Printshop – Print Publishers. I teach what you do not learn at school.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My Background is not a College Education in Fine Arts, it’s 8 years on and off of wiping plates, printing on handmade Japanes papers for Horst Janssen:
I worked with Hartmut Frielinghaus for 8 years on and off, the endless Train rides, HJ Trinks, und jetzt Trinken Sie einen, I learned to be a Printmaker and being good at it. I have a 1880 Krause Etching Press, one of 5 Left after the Wars to be Floor standing, print 30 x 60 Inch with an awesome impression. we have Hot plates,Aquatint Box, , all the Tools for Etching, Engraving and Mezzotint, Sugarlift, you name it.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Word of mouth is the best source of new clients for me. I know it is the old fashion way. Now days many companies depend on social media and internet which is good. But in my experience Word of Mouth is the most reliable one for me.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
1. The creativity — I customize work for each client. No two products are same. You can’t find anywhere else except in my shop. Things I have made, bound, printed you can find worldwide in Exhibitions and Collections. You also can see in movies: Elf (the big book), props for Titanic, Planet of the Apes, Nixon (where I made props for whole bookshelf the scene in Chairman Mao’s library), and many more.
2. Able to work under pressure to meet the demand and very short notice.
3. High quality of work due to many years of training I had from best of the best of the world: Otto Rohse in Hamburg taught me engraving on Copperplate, Horst Pichl in Stuttgart intro in French fine Binding, Herman Zapf in Typedesign, as Jost Hochuli and Max Caflisch, Hauib van Krimpen. and I received my Qualifications as a Master Craftsman in Switzerland, Germany and France.
4. Able to have projects done in one roof: I set Type and print Books and Ephemera (Invites, Business cards etc.) in Letterpress up to 27 x 42 inches (Fine Art and Broadsheets), I also etch, and engrave copper plates for Printmaking and work in Mezzotint, I have printed for noted Artists worldwide.
In my Hand Bindery I produce Books in fine materials to exacting standards, single Volumes in Paper, Cloth and genuine Leather, I also bind Limited Editions, create Boxes and Enclosures and develop Artist Book Structures.
Contact Info:
- Website: Krauseintaglio.com
- Instagram: @ddrludwig
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrauseKupferdruck/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddr-ludwig-mohr-30527b73/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/krause-intaglio-and-custom-bindery-maywood-2
- Other: Very sadly we just know DDr. Ludwig passed away early this year. His memorial service will be broadcasting online worldwide: https://lafuneral.com/obits/ludwig-mohr/ Book Institute — a Nonprofit founded by Master Craftsman DDr.Ludwig Mohr. Website: www.Bookinstitute.org Facebook: Bookinstitute.org Instagram: @bookinstituteorg
Image Credits
Yilan Luo. Ludwig Mohr