E.O. Plauen is the pseudonym of Erich Ohser, a German cartoonist and illustrator born on March 18, 1903, in Untergettengrün, Saxony. He is most famous for his series of wordless picture stories featuring the characters 'Vater und Sohn' ('Father and Son'). Ohser began his artistic career studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden and later moved to Berlin, where he worked as a successful political cartoonist for several newspapers, including the 'Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung.'
Erich Ohser's career, however, was dramatically impacted by the rise of the Nazi regime. Due to his political cartoons that often criticized the Nazis, he faced increasing scrutiny and censorship. To circumvent the ban on his work, Ohser adopted the pseudonym E.O. Plauen, derived from his birthplace and his son's name, Plauen. Under this name, he created the 'Vater und Sohn' series, which was published in the newspaper 'Berliner Zeitung' from 1934 until 1937 and enjoyed widespread popularity in Germany.
Despite his success with 'Vater und Sohn,' Ohser's past as a political cartoonist and his association with known critics of the Nazi regime made him a target. In 1944, he was arrested by the Gestapo for alleged anti-Nazi activities and for making defamatory comments about Adolf Hitler. Faced with the likelihood of a death sentence, Erich Ohser took his own life on April 6, 1944, in Berlin, to avoid the humiliation of a public trial and to protect his family and friends from further persecution.
Ohser's legacy lives on through his 'Vater und Sohn' series, which remains a beloved example of his artistic talent and humanist spirit. His work has been reprinted numerous times and has been recognized for its universal themes and its ability to capture the warmth and complexity of the father-son relationship without the use of words.
