Koehler, Mela

1885 – 1960
Austrian

Mela [Melanie] Koehler was born in Vienna and studied first painting and later applied arts at the Kunstgewerbeschule, Wien, under Kolomon Moser.  In 1910 she taught a course in aesthetics for  seamstresses and dressmakers before furthering her studies in Paris.  She eventually returned to Vienna and became a prolific graphic artist working for newspapers, trading stamps, a perfumery and illustrating several children’s books.  She was also a textile, set and costume designer.  Mela Koehler’s greatest legacy is her contribution of over 150 post cards and place cards on the subjects of fashion and children’s games for the Wiener Werkstätte.

In 1924 she married Gunnar Broman and eventually emigrated to Sweden where she continued to work in the fields of fashion and costume and children’s illustrations.