Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 - 1938)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was born in 1880 in Germany and is one of the key figures in German Expressionism. His artistic journey began while studying architecture in Dresden, but his passion lay in painting and printmaking. In 1905, he founded the artist group 'Die Brücke' (The Bridge), which played a crucial role in the development of 20th-century German Expressionism. Kirchner's early works were attempts to express emotional and psychological reactions to modern society, characterized by vibrant colors and intense styles. During his military service in World War I, Kirchner suffered from severe nervous exhaustion and spent a long time in sanatoriums. After the war, he settled in Switzerland, drawing new artistic inspiration from the Alpine landscapes. His work became calmer compared to his earlier years, yet continued to be marked by strong Expressionist elements. In his later life, the Nazi regime branded his works as degenerate art, leading to their destruction or sale at trivial prices. Distressed by these circumstances, Kirchner took his own life in 1938.
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