People of the Palace
150 Years

[Painting of man sleeping by Carl Holzer]

1915

Carl Holzer: Artist and WW1 Enemy Alien

Carl Holzer was an Austrian lithographer and advertising artist who came to London in 1902. When war broke out he was declared an ’enemy alien’ and interned in the Palace. His portraits captured some of the 3,000 men held at the Palace through the First World War until being ’repatriated’ in 1919.

The sign is one of a series installed to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of Alexandra Palace (1873).
The signs commemorate individuals who left their mark on the site.

During World War I, the place was used as a detention camp for citizens of enemy countries who were in Britain (1914-1919), and from 1915, German prisoners of war were also imprisoned in the palace Click for sign's details..
Carl Holzer was an Austrian artist and publicist who arrived in London in 1902. During World War I, he was also sent to Alexander Palace (between 1915-1919), where he painted the lives of those detained there.
In 1926, he was granted British citizenship. He died in 1943.

The location of the sign was photographed on the same day (with the transmission tower in the background) Click for a larger image
as well as the main building of Alexandra Palace Click for a larger image.