He graduated in 1841 and established a studio in the Pempelfort district, and soon became associated with the Düsseldorfer Malerschule. There, he married Caroline Dorn. They had several children. His daughter, Maria, married the businessman Franz Georg Groll, while she was still underage.[2] Two of his sons went to the United States. His eldest, Julius [de], also became a painter.
In 1844, he created his best known work: The Silesian Weavers [de], inspired by an uprising staged by the weavers of Silesia earlier that same year; an event which would also inspire Heinrich Heine to write his poem of the same name ("The Silesian Weavers"). It was shown throughout Germany. Although it was well received, some art critics complained that, by taking the side of the weavers, he was engaging in "Tendenzmalerei [de]" (propaganda).[3]
In 1847, he made an extensive study tour of the United States. The sketches he made formed the basis for many of his later paintings. In 1848, he was instrumental in creating a new artists' association which, upon his suggestion, was named "Malkasten" (Paintbox). He served as its Chairman for several years. He also served on the board of the Verein der Düsseldorfer Künstler [de], and was a member of various academies. In 1864, King Wilhelm I named him a Professor. Later, he received the Order of the Red Eagle.
Selected paintings
Two Young Girls in Geography Class
A Farewell to the Emigrants
The Young Sailor as a Suitor
The Silesian Weavers
References
^"Hübner (Karl)". In: Conversations-Lexikon. Allgemeine deutsche Real-Encyklopädie. F. A. Brockhaus, Leipzig 1877, 12th ed. Vol.8, pg.415 (Online) @ Google Books
Friedrich Müller, " Hübner, Karl Wilhelm", In: Die Künstler aller Zeit en und Völker: oder, Leben und Werke der berühmtesten Baumeister, Bildhauer, Maler, Kupferstecher … etc. Vol.2: F–L, Ebner & Seubert 1860, (Online) @ Google Books
Lilian Landes: Carl Wilhelm Hübner (1814–1879) – Genre und Zeitgeschichte im deutschen Vormärz. Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich, 2008, ISBN978-3-422-06788-2