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Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a pivotal figure in the art world, known for his profound impact on 20th-century Expressionism. Born in Bavaria, Germany, on May 6, 1880, Kirchner's journey into art began with architecture studies before he found his true calling in painting and printmaking. In 1905, alongside fellow architecture students, he co-founded Die Brücke ("The Bridge"), a group that sought to revolutionize art by bridging the gap between traditional academic styles and modern artistic expression. This group was instrumental in the development of Expressionism, advocating for intense emotion conveyed through vivid colors and bold lines.
Kirchner's work, characterized by its expressive intensity and often exploring themes of urban life and the human psyche, reflects a deep engagement with the cultural and social upheavals of his time. Notably, his experiences during World War I, including a mental breakdown and subsequent discharge from military service, deeply influenced his art. Works like "Self-Portrait as a Soldier" (1915) poignantly encapsulate the personal and societal trauma of the era.
After the war, Kirchner sought solace in Davos, Switzerland, where the tranquil landscapes inspired a new direction in his work, showcasing a more serene and reflective approach. Despite his contributions to modern art, Kirchner's later years were marred by the Nazi regime's denunciation of his work as "degenerate," leading to the destruction and dispersal of many pieces. Tragically, this persecution contributed to his decision to end his life on June 15, 1938.
Kirchner's legacy is preserved through his influential body of work, from vivid urban scenes to tranquil landscapes, all marked by a distinctive, expressive style that continues to captivate art collectors and experts. His works are held in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, underscoring his enduring influence on the art world.
For those interested in the profound impact of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner on modern art and Expressionism, subscribing to updates on new product sales and auction events related to his work can provide valuable insights. This subscription is an opportunity for collectors and art experts to stay informed about the availability of Kirchner's influential pieces and related events.
Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel was a German Realist artist noted for drawings, etchings, and paintings. Along with Caspar David Friedrich, he is considered one of the two most prominent German painters of the 19th century, and was the most successful artist of his era in Germany. First known as Adolph Menzel, he was knighted in 1898 and changed his name to Adolph von Menzel.
His popularity in his native country, owing especially to his history paintings, was such that few of his major paintings left Germany, as many were quickly acquired by museums in Berlin. Menzel's graphic work (and especially his drawings) were more widely disseminated; these, along with informal paintings not initially intended for display, have largely accounted for his posthumous reputation.
Carlos Schwabe (born Émile Martin Charles Schwab) was a Swiss Symbolist painter and printmaker.
Jakob Philipp Hackert was a German painter of the second half of the 18th and early 19th centuries. He is known as a landscape painter and printmaker, a representative of neoclassicism and romanticism.
Hackert reached the peak of creative activity in 1770-1780. He was recognized by the European aristocracy, and for a time served as court painter to King Ferdinand IV of Naples, as well as receiving commissions from representatives of the Russian imperial family, such as Empress Catherine II and the heir to the throne, Paul Petrovich. His work, according to critics, was characterized by high craftsmanship and aristocratic elegance.
Karl Heinz Bohrmann was a German painter, graphic artist and engraver.
Hans Mielich was a German painter of the late Renaissance, mid-16th century. He is known as a painter, graphic artist, and court painter to Duke Albrecht V of Bavaria.
Mielich painted many religious paintings, portraits, and historical canvases (usually on boards), and he also decorated altars in churches. After a trip to Rome, his style became close to Italian Mannerism. His most famous work is the altarpiece of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Ingolstadt. He was also famous as the author of miniatures for manuscripts, including the Duchess Anna of Bavaria's Treasure Book, made for Duke Albrecht V and his wife Anna of Bavaria in 1555. In the same year, Milich became head of the Munich Artists' Guild.
Anton Graff was an eminent Swiss portrait artist. Among his famous subjects were Friedrich Schiller, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Heinrich von Kleist, Frederick the Great, Friederike Sophie Seyler, Johann Gottfried Herder, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Moses Mendelssohn and Christian Felix Weiße. His pupils included Emma Körner, Philipp Otto Runge and Karl Ludwig Kaaz.
Anselm Feuerbach was a famous 19th-century German painter, an outstanding master of the historical genre.
Anselm Feuerbach was also a skilful portrait painter, the majority of his paintings are in the style of Neoclassicism. His finest masterpieces are nowadays kept in museums in Germany, and his biography is closely linked to Italy, where the artist lived for a considerable part of his life.
Ernst Otto Greiner was a German painter and graphic artist. He studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.
Otto Greiner was one of the outstanding masters of German Art Nouveau. The painter's mature style, characterised by unexpected spatial juxtapositions and sharply focused photographic naturalism, was strongly influenced by the work of Max Klinger.
Ludwig von Hofmann is a German painter, graphic artist and designer. The influence of Historicism, Art Nouveau, Symbolism and New Realism can be felt in the works of Ludwig von Hofmann at different periods of his art.
Ludwig von Hoffmann studied painting at the academies of fine arts in Dresden, Karlsruhe and Munich. Since 1898 he was a member of the cultural movement Berlin Secession.
After the National Socialists came to power in Germany, some of his works were classified as degenerate art, but most of them continued to be exhibited in museums in Germany.
Käthe Kollwitz (born as Schmidt) was a German artist who worked with painting, printmaking (including etching, lithography and woodcuts) and sculpture. Her most famous art cycles, including The Weavers and The Peasant War, depict the effects of poverty, hunger and war on the working class. Despite the realism of her early works, her art is now more closely associated with Expressionism. Kollwitz was the first woman not only to be elected to the Prussian Academy of Arts but also to receive honorary professor status.
César Klein was a German Expressionist painter and designer, probably best known as one of the founders the November Group and the Arbeitsrat für Kunst. He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting.
Franz Heckendorf was a German painter and graphic artist who was particularly successful during the Weimar Republic. During the National Socialist era, he was sentenced to ten years in prison after helping Berlin Jews threatened with deportation to extermination camps to escape to Switzerland.
Karl Heinz Bohrmann was a German painter, graphic artist and engraver.
Wolf Vostell was a German artist who is considered a pioneer of video and installation art, and a key figure in the Fluxus movement. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Wuppertal and later at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Vostell's art was heavily influenced by the horrors of World War II, and he often incorporated themes of violence and destruction in his work. He was interested in exploring the relationship between art and technology, and he experimented with new media such as television, video, and sound.
One of Vostell's most famous works is "Concrete Traffic," a 1970 installation in which he placed a Cadillac in a block of concrete. The piece was intended to comment on the impact of automobile culture on society and the environment.
Another notable work is "TV-Burying," a performance piece in which Vostell buried a television set in the ground, with only the screen visible. The work was a commentary on the pervasive influence of television on modern life.
Vostell's work has been exhibited extensively around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Venice Biennale, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
Walter Stöhrer is a German painter and graphic artist, a representative of gesture-figure painting.
He studied painting at the Academy of Arts in Karlsruhe and was a member of the Academy of Arts in Berlin.