Johannes von Gumppenberg Series Johannes von Gumppenberg, originally from Dusseldorf, Germany, and later from Jamestown, Rhode Island, spent his life as a working artist, including years teaching college and in administration. He graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, studied in Munich and finished with an MFA from Yale University. His published work includes his major volume, The Formulation of a Graphic Language (profusely illustrated ), and numerous art portfolios and occasional essays.