| 16.01.1891 |
Born in Cologne, Blindgasse, as son of the shoemaker Franz Anton Hubert Esser and Anna Maria Esser, née Menné. |
| 1907 |
First oil paintings |
| Feb. 1910 |
Leaving Certificate at the Kgl. Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, Cologne. |
| 1910/11 |
Studies on history of art at the University of Bonn as student of Paul Clemen. Meeting Max Ernst at the course Zeichnen und Modellieren nach der Natur und der Antike. |
| 1911-13 |
Studies on history of art in Berlin and Munich as student of Heinrich Wölfflin. |
| Sept. 1912 |
First travel to Istanbul |
| Jan.-Aug. 1914 |
Trainee at the Hofglasmalerei Hans Bockhorni, Munich. |
| 1914-17 |
Soldier in First World War (Western front: Vosges, Somme; Eastern front: Galicia, Romania). |
| 1917-21 |
Prisoner of war in Siberia and homeward journey via Manchuria (a. o. Chabarowsk, Kansk, Beresowka, Chailar, Charbin, journey home from Wladiwostok by ship). |
| 1921/22 |
Berlin: Free occupation as artist. Meeting Otto Freundlich. |
| March-May 1922 |
Member of the Berlin group Kommune, together with Otto Freundlich, Raoul Hausmann and others. |
| 1922-25 |
Unkel/Rhine; several journeys to Prague |
| 1926 |
Cologne: together with Peter Abelen and Peter Hecker foundation of the lobby Der Kunstsammler. |
| 1926-33 |
Close relations to the group Cologne Progressives. Aquaintance with Heinrich Hoerle, Franz W. Seiwert and others. Several exhibitions. |
| 1927 |
Half year of studies in Istanbul. Mostly water-colours. |
| 1928 |
Half year stay in Paris. Numerous water-colours and nude drawings. |
| 1929 |
Half year of studies in Paris. Oil paintings. |
| 1930-33 |
Cologne: Free occupation as artist. Focus on abstract oil paintings in close relation to Rhinish Constructivism. Avocational work as press draughtsman, illustrating travel reports for the supplement Die Reise of the Kölnische Zeitung. |
| 1930 |
Voyage to Finnland |
| 1931 |
Trip to Danzig |
| 1932 |
Member of the Gruppe 32 |
| 1933 |
Cologne: Marriage with Hetty Schuler |
| 1934-64 |
Residence in Munich (München-Laim, since 1939 Lochham near Munich) |
| 1934-45 |
Occupation as caricaturist at the Münchner Neueste Nachrichten |
| 1935 |
Birth of daughter Hedwig Mechtild, named Hetta |
| 1939 |
Birth of son Franz Martin |
| 1943-47 |
Focus on water-colour landscapes |
| 1945 |
Death of wife Hetty |
| 1945-50 |
Numerous glass window designes; three of them executed by the Franz Mayer’sche Hofkunstanstalt, Munich. |
| 1950 |
Marriage with Liselotte Backhaus, née Schlüter |
| 1949-64 |
Occupation as caricaturist for the Nürnberger Nachrichten. To a small extent oil paintings featuring abstract topics. Numerous designs for book illustrations. |
| 18.06.1964 |
Died in Seefeld on Pilsensee. Buried in Gräfelfing near Munich. |
