kunst und künstler
August Robert Ludwig Macke was an eminent German expressionist painter, founder and member of the Blue Rider association. His very colorful and individual style is today referred to as the Macke style, characterized by a harmonious combination of colors and the play of light effects. His favorite subjects of his works were sketches from the life of the city, as well as nature and man. The paintings of August Macke give an impression of joy and lightness.
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Gerhard Marcks was a German artist, known primarily as a sculptor, but who is also known for his drawings, woodcuts, lithographs and ceramics.
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.
Erich Heckel was a German painter and printmaker, and a founding member of the group Die Brücke ("The Bridge") which existed 1905–1913. His work was part of the art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Jonathan Meese is a German painter, sculptor, performance artist and installation artist based in Berlin and Hamburg. Meese's (often multi-media) works include paintings, collages, drawings and writing. He also designs theater sets and wrote and starred in a play, De Frau: Dr. Poundaddylein — Dr. Ezodysseusszeusuzur in 2007 at the Volksbühne Theater. He is mainly concerned with personalities of world history, primordial myths and heroes. Jonathan Meese lives and works in Ahrensburg and Berlin.
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, a prominent figure in the German Expressionist movement, was not just an artist but a pioneer who significantly influenced the early 20th-century art scene. Born in Rottluff, Germany, in 1884, he later added his hometown's name to his surname, showcasing a deep connection to his roots. Schmidt-Rottluff was a founding member of the artist group Die Brücke, which played a critical role in the development of Expressionism in Germany. His works, characterized by bold colors and stark contrasts, were a departure from traditional artistic expressions and embraced a more emotional and subjective interpretation of reality.
Schmidt-Rottluff's contributions to art were not limited to painting; he was also a master printmaker, with a significant body of work comprising woodcuts, lithographs, and etchings. His artistic endeavors were marked by a fascination with the natural world, social issues, and an exploration of human emotion, themes that remained consistent throughout his career. Despite facing persecution during the Nazi regime, with many of his works labeled as "degenerate," Schmidt-Rottluff's resolve did not waver. In 1937, 608 of his paintings were seized, and by 1941, he was forbidden to paint. Yet, his legacy continued to grow post-World War II, and he was later honored with professorship at the University of Arts in Berlin-Charlottenburg in 1947, where he influenced a new generation of artists.
The value and impact of Schmidt-Rottluff's work are reflected in the presence of his pieces in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, Neue Galerie, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and many others. His works are celebrated for their emotional depth, innovative use of color, and ability to convey complex themes through simplified forms. Notably, some of his significant pieces have been subjects of restitution efforts, highlighting the historical importance and continued relevance of his work in the context of art history and cultural heritage.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Schmidt-Rottluff's oeuvre offers a profound insight into the evolution of Expressionism and the broader cultural and political narratives of the early 20th century. His works not only serve as a testament to his individual genius but also as a reflection of the tumultuous era that shaped them.
To stay informed about new discoveries, sales, and auction events related to Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's work, signing up for updates is highly recommended. This ensures that enthusiasts and collectors alike are always in the loop regarding opportunities to engage with and acquire pieces by this influential artist, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire and resonate with future generations.
Lotte Laserstein was a German-Swedish artist and a prominent representative of German realism.
Lotte was a student at the prestigious Berlin Academy of Fine Arts and became an accomplished realist painter, receiving a gold medal from the Academy for her work. Her first exhibition took place in 1930 at a Berlin gallery. Laserstein worked partly in figurative painting, had apprentices, and illustrated anatomy texts to earn money. She also painted portraits of cosmopolitan, emancipated women as well as self-portraits.
The National Socialist regime forced the artist to leave Germany in 1937 and emigrate to Sweden. Her mother died in a concentration camp. Lotte Laserstein lived in Stockholm until the end of her life, creating over five decades of work, in addition to expressive self-portraits, many moving images of other immigrants, rural landscapes and urban scenes in Sweden.
Lotte Laserstein became a member of the Swedish Academy of Fine Arts and earned a reputation as a popular and respected portraitist. She has approximately 10,000 works in her oeuvre.
Arnold Fiedler was German painter and graphic artist.
Clemens Pasch was a German sculptor and painter.
Max Beckmann, a German painter, printmaker, sculptor, and writer, stood out in the early 20th century for his profound contributions to modern art. Beckmann's career spanned a tumultuous period in history, deeply influencing his thematic and stylistic choices. Unlike many of his contemporaries who embraced non-representational painting, Max Beckmann persisted with and evolved the tradition of figurative painting, drawing inspiration from a wide array of artists spanning from Cézanne and Van Gogh to medieval masters like Bosch and Bruegel.
Max Beckmann's experiences, particularly those related to the World Wars, significantly shaped his work. Following Adolf Hitler's rise to power and the subsequent condemnation of modern art as "degenerate," Beckmann fled Germany, spending a decade in self-imposed exile in Amsterdam before eventually relocating to the United States. His art from this period, especially his large triptychs, is considered some of his most potent, offering a stark reflection on humanity and the chaos of the times.
One of Max Beckmann's most personally allegorical works, "Beginning" (1949), encapsulates his knack for blending real and imagined elements from his life to comment on the broader human condition. This piece, alongside others, underscores Beckmann's enduring fascination with the existential struggles modern society faces, teetering between desire and societal roles.
Max Beckmann's legacy is cemented not just by his unique approach to modernism but also by his influence on subsequent generations of artists, particularly in the United States, where he spent his final years teaching and working. Despite a path that often diverged from the mainstream narratives of art history, Beckmann's work continues to resonate, housed in prestigious institutions like The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Max Beckmann's oeuvre offers a compelling exploration of 20th-century art and history. To stay informed about new discoveries, sales, and auction events related to Max Beckmann, consider signing up for updates. This subscription ensures access to the latest opportunities to engage with the work of one of modernism's most individual voices.
