Hanns Zischler

Born in 1947, he is a writer, actor and photographer. In addition to numerous essays, including Kafka geht ins Kino (Kafka Goes to the Cinema, 1996/2017), Der Schmetterlingskoffer (The Butterfly Suitcase, 2010, co-authored with Hanna Zeckau) and Short Messages (2024), he has published the novel Der zerrissene Brief (The Torn Letter, 2020). He has a lifelong love affair with the pencil. Most recently published by Residenz Verlag in the series ‘Dinge des Lebens’ (Things of Life): ‘Der Bleistift’ (The Pencil) (2025).

Hanns Zischler Hanna Zeckau (Illustrated by) - The Pencil

According to Hanns Zischler, the modern era began with the pencil as much as with the printing press. As commonplace as it is indispensable, the pencil shapes our handwriting; we need it for quick notes, for underlining in our books, for drawings and lists. We love its different degrees of hardness and tips – and the fact that its mark can be erased. The exciting history of the pencil stretches from the discovery of graphite in 1564 to industrial production since the 18th century and right up to the present day. Along the way, we explore ‘pencil territories’, discover the new genre of sketching, meet Alice in Wonderland and learn all about a ‘parasitic ally’: the eraser.

Hanns Zischler

Books

Hanns Zischler Hanna Zeckau (Illustrated by) - The Pencil