Born and died in Dresden (died in the very last hours of the Second World War from an strained bullet), Germany where he would remain for most of his life. Studied art at the Dresden Academy as a student of Bauzer and Bracht. Hänel sometimes featured figures in his works, although he was not known for traditionally figurative work or portraiture unlike many of his contemporaries. Hänel is primarily known as a painter of animals, but among his earliest known work are scenes of Paris nightlife. Hänel was awarded numerous honors in his career, including, notably, the Gold Medal at The International Exhibition of Fine Arts at the Glaspalast in Munich. Many of his works are in the permanent collection of the Dresden Museum

Georg Hänel visited Macedonia around 1917 and 1918, likely as war artist of German solder. He has made many paintings and watercolors, painting landscapes and genre scenes around Prilep. One watercolor of a village view with women washing on the spring is in collection of the author. Another example is the painting “Women in Macedonian Clothes 1918”, sold by the auction house Martin Wendl, Rudolfstadt Germany on 6th of March 1999 (lot number 3099). Multiple Macedonian paintings are in possession of The City Gallery Dresden (Stadtische Galerie Dresden) among other: “Macedonian Tobacco Worker”.

Special thanks to the granddaughter of the artist, Mrs. Christine Hänel from South Africa for providing me information about the artist.