Rudolf Jettmar was a Polish painter, engraver, decorator, draughtsman and illustrator who was mainly active in Austria. Jettmar started his studies at the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien in 1886 and continued them at the Badische Kunstakademie Karlsruhe in 1892-1893.  

From 1898, he taught in Vienna at the Kunstschule für Frauen und Mädchen, later renamed as The Wiener Frauenakademie. In that year he also became a member of the Wiener Secession. 

From 1910 until his retirement in 1936 he was a professor at the Vienna Academy. In 1929, he became the successor to Ferdinand Schmutzer (1870-1928), head of the master class for graphic design

Jettmar's work was influenced by Max Klinger (1857-1920), an important representative of Symbolism. “Die Stunden der Nacht”, “Prometheus” (1910 and 1916) and the eight etchings of the “Cain Cycle” after Lord Byron (1788-1824) are among his most important graphic works. The side retables for the altar of the Art Nouveau church Kirche am Steinhof are Jettmar's work. Jettmar's famous 1909 painting “Weg des Lebens” was unfortunately destroyed during the war. 

Rudolf Jettmar died as a result of a stroke. In 1954, "Jettmargasse" was named after him in Vienna-Liesing (23rd district). The Österreichische Post issued a special stamp in 1989 to mark the 50th anniversary of his death. The few remaining oil paintings (landscapes, Greek mythology) and etchings are mainly in family ownership.

Museums: Paris, Prague