Marie Beeg

Born in Fürth in 1855, Marie Ille-Beeg — often published as Maria Beeg — became known as a German author and illustrator. She studied art in Nuremberg and later lived in Munich, where she married the painter and academy professor Eduard Ille.

After her father's early death, writing and drawing became more than a talent: they were a way to support herself and her family. She went on to produce many books for children and young people, especially fairy tales, picture books, and stories for girls, building a steady career in a field where women were only beginning to gain professional recognition.

She died in Munich in 1927, but her stories have remained part of the history of German children's literature. Today she is remembered not only as a prolific writer, but also as an artist who combined words and images with unusual versatility.