Anny Wottitz (1900-1945)

Anny was born on 19 May 1900 in Budapest.  Around 1914, after the death of her father, she moved to Vienna with her mother and sisters.  After secondary school, Anny attended the Kunstgewerbeschule (School of arts and crafts) in Vienna, where she first met Friedl Dicker.   She also started an apprenticeship in a bookshop.  

In 1917, Johannes Itten opened an art school in Vienna, which Anny joined.  When Itten was appointed to the Bauhaus in Weimar in 1919,  Anny and her friends followed him.  She completed the Grundkurs (basic course), then specialised in bookbinding.  Anny studied at the Bauhaus until 1923.  

Anny probably met Hans Moller, her future husband, in Weimar.  She returned to Vienna in 1923, and they were married in 1924.  Her daughter Judith was born in 1926.  

Hans Moller ran a large textile company which was based in Czechoslovakia.  The family led a priviliged, very secular life.  In 1928, they moved to the house which the architect Adolf Loos had been commissioned to design.    

Around 1932, after a break of some years, Anny took up her artistic work again,  concentrating on photography.  

When the Nazis occupied Austria on March 13, 1938 (Anschluss),  the family left for Czechoslovakia.  One month later, Anny and her daughter travelled to England.  Her marriage to Hans Moller had broken down and she did not wish to emigrate to Palestine.  

Coming from the beautiful house in Vienna to living in one small room in London was a huge change for Anny.   Moreover, she began to suffer from ill-health and constant worry for family members who were trying to leave Prague.  

 Eventually, encouraged by Hans Moller who was concerned for their safety,  Anny and her daughter left for Palestine in April 1940.   

She lived in Haifa and died at home on 31 July 1945.

By Ann Adler