Ivan
Fedorovich Valter

Born in the family of a merchant and city Alderman. He studied at the Jelgava real school, where he met his first teacher in art teacher painting and drawing, Karlis Wiesner, who praised the boy's talent and advised him to study further, enrolling in the Studio döring. At this time Walters traveled extensively in Zemgale, well knowing its nature and looking for the motives of the studios.

In 1889 J. Walters he entered the St. Petersburg Academy of fine arts and studied under the guidance of A. Kivshenko and V. Makovsky. In 1894 he graduated from the Academy with diploma work "At the port" and received the II degree of the artist, because already during the studios, he received the silver medal of I and II degree.

In 1893 the artist was actively involved in the student circle "Rukis", which unites Latvian artists in St. Petersburg.

After graduation, he turned to independent work because for further study lacked funds.

In 1894 the artist in Jelgava organized the first exhibition, where he exhibited his works and also works from the collection of the municipal Museum and private collections.

In 1896, together with other Latvian artists Ya Walters arranged Ethnographic exhibition in Riga.

Together with V. Purvitis he actively participated in exhibitions of the St. Petersburg academic and the Spring exhibitions has been a member of the jury.

In 1897, the artist entered the Studio of Vladimir Makovsky at the Higher art school of the St. Petersburg Academy of arts, graduating thesis "Market in Jelgava".

After graduating from the Academy Walters in Jelgava indulge in active social and artistic life. The second floor of the house of his father, he built as a workshop, where going to the local intelligentsia, held musical evenings and the artist, led by his Studio.

At this time Walters writes easily, impressionisticheskie, and in his works we can recognize the presence of the Russian school of realism.

In 1898 – 1904 the artist made several exhibitions of his works in Riga, Jelgava and Koknese, but criticism is not very supportive, although a little "Boys bathers" found success as Secsii in Berlin and in the exhibition "World of art" in Russia. But disagreements escalate into deep conflict and Walters left his homeland forever in emigrating in 1906 in Germany, where he lived until the end of life.

Until 1905 he took part in about 30 exhibitions in most of Russia and Western Europe.

In exile Walters rushed to the contemporary artistic trends in Western Europe at that time, begins the development of his work towards expressionism. After moving to Germany the artist of your signature begins to add the premarital name of the mother – Kurau.

Arriving in Germany he settled in Dresden, where the original podrabatyval in a local orchestra playing the violin. Participating in art exhibitions in Germany (Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Dusseldorf, etc.) Alters gradually became known as a painter.

The work of the German period can be divided into two big stages at the place of residence of the artist – 1906 – 1917, the period of Dresden, 1917 – 1932 (before his death) the Berlin period.

In total in the German period Walters has created about 3,000 works.