In 1982, Karl-Heinrich Müller had a former barn on the newly acquired grounds of Insel Hombroich converted into a studio for Anatol (real name Karl-Heinz Herzfeld, born 21 January 1931, died 10 May 2019). As envisaged by the artist himself, it was in the style of an East Prussian farmer’s cottage. Here, Anatol – a former master student of Joseph Beuys – worked almost every day on his stone, wood and steel sculptures. Even after the museum opened, he remained a key presence in Hombroich, usually together with his wife Erdmute (Misi), and liked to engage visitors in passionate discussions about art and politics.
After an initial apprenticeship as a blacksmith in the post-war years, he was in the police force in Düsseldorf between 1952 and 1991, working mainly in road safety education. At the same time, he studied art at Düsseldorf Art Academy between 1964 and 1972. Anatol was invited to exhibit works at documenta in Kassel on three occasions – in 1972, 1977 and 1982.