1912
Born August 29, 1912 in Hagen, Westphalia
1932-1935
Studies in graphic art at the Dortmund School of arts and crafts
1935-39
Worked as a freelance artist without any participations in exhibitions
1939-46
Was conscripted as a technical draftsman in an armaments company
1945
Worked as a freelance painter in Hagen
1947
Participation in the exhibition “Junge Künstler zwischen Ruhr und Weser” in Recklinghausen, as a result of which the artist’s association „Junger Westen“ was formed
1948
Art award „Junger Westen“ of the City of Recklinghausen
1951
First non-objective art works were created
1955
Participation in the exhibition “Peinture et Sculpture non-figurative en Allemagne d’aujourd’hui” in Paris; first great international exhibition participation
1958
Guggenheim Award (National Section) New York; Participation in the Biennale di Venezia
1958-60
Professorship at the “Hochschule für bildende Künste” in Hamburg
1959
Participation in the documtena 2 in Kassel
1963
Was awarded with the highest art prize of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia
1964
Participation in the documenta 3 for which he created three paintings
1966-77
Professorship at the “Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste” in Karlsruhe
1967-68
Guest professorship at the Minneapolis School of Art; journeys across the USA
Since 1968
Member of the Berlin Academy of Arts
Since 1982
Member of the “Order Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts”
1991
Guest professorship at the Fondazione Ratti in Como, Itlay
1999
Emil Schumacher died October 4 on Ibiza