Ilse Hausner was born 1920.3.20 in Zwittau Mähren. Already in childhood her desire unfolded for an artist career. Her grandfather Oscar Krause, a successful entrepreneur in Teplice encouraged her to realize her dream, himself being a hobby artist.

He sponsored her studies at the Academy of fine arts in Dresden. 1938 -1941 she completed elementary studies at professor Waldapfel and was master Student till 1945 of Professor Schramm-Zittau, a former student of famous Heinrich von Zügel.

During second world war the students of fine arts had to accomplish social service in rural areas during harvesting period in summer time. During this social Service she built up a long-lasting friendship with Lothar Günther Buchheim, who later on lived in the same region as her in Upper Bavaria.

During her studies of fine arts, she meets her future husband Wolfgang Witschel, a master student of sculpting at Professor Albiker, himself a former student of famous Auguste Rhodin. Wolfgang Witschel being one of the rare male students at this time, because he was hurt on frontline in Stalingrad and and further participation in war was not possible due to his injury.

During the Dresden night of bombing on 1945.2.13 her Studio with all her paints in Pfotenhauer Straße in Dresden was completely destroyed by fire. This event had a deep impact on her. Since that day she had much pain to sell her paints, despite there was a lot of interest. This however is the reason why the Ilse Hausner collection is today quite substantial.