RUDOLF RAIMUND BALLABENE (BALABENE) studied philosophy and linguistics in Prague before beginning the study of art. Forbidden from pursuing painting as a career by his father, he went to the theatre where he appeared as an actor in numerous productions. From the time of his marriage in 1928 he devoted himself solely to art. As a result of his refusal to accept a position in Berlin in 1939 it was deemed he was an opponent of the regime and he was arrested by the Gestapo. All of his work was destroyed and a decree banned him from working as an artist. In 1945 the Ballabenes went to Vienna where he was already exhibiting by 1946. By the mid-50s he was established with an international following and he continued painting until the week before his death in 1968.