Artist of the Day, August 24, 2026 : Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a German painter (#2613)

 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938) was a prominent German Expressionist painter and printmaker who significantly shaped twentieth-century art. While completing an architecture degree in Dresden in 1905, the self-taught artist co-founded the influential collective known as Die Brücke, or "The Bridge." This revolutionary group became a foundational pillar of the Expressionist movement, driven by a shared desire to challenge traditional academic art standards.

Kirchner’s early professional development included a temporary relocation to Munich in 1904. There, he studied woodcut techniques inspired by historic masters like Albrecht Dürer. After returning to Dresden, his artistic direction was heavily influenced by primitive art encountered at the local Ethnographic Museum. This inspiration shaped his core creative output, including the paintings, murals, and furniture he produced for his collaborative workspace in the Friedrichstadt district.

In October 1911, Kirchner transitioned to Berlin, entering the most prolific and successful period of his career. His major works gained rapid traction, leading to participation in the 1912 Der Blaue Reiter exhibition and international exposure at the historic 1913 Armory Show in New York. This global momentum established his reputation as a key figure in modern European art.

The onset of the First World War marked a major turning point. Kirchner volunteered for military service but suffered a severe physical and mental breakdown. Declared unfit for active duty in 1915, he relocated to Davos, Switzerland, where he spent the remainder of his life working in relative isolation. Decades later, his innovative portfolio faced severe political opposition. The Nazi regime officially categorized his work as "degenerate" in 1933. This targeted campaign culminated in 1937 with the systematic removal, sale, or destruction of over 600 of his artistic creations from public view.
© 2026. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner  or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only

 Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Self-portrait, 1925

Female Nude with Foliage Shadows, 1905

Dancers, 1906

Doris with Ruff Collar, 1906

Sitting Woman (Dodo), 1907

Female Nude, 1908

Nudes, 1908

Woman with Black Hat, 1908

Head of a Woman, 1909

Marzella, 1909–10

Naked Playing People, 1910

Fränzi in front of Carved Chair, 1910

Bohemian Forest Lake, 1911

Nollendorfplatz, 1912

Street, Berlin, 1913

Two Women with a Washbasin (The Sisters), 1913

Berlin Street Scene,  1913-14

Three Bathers in the Sea, 1914

Brandenburg Gate, 1915

Self-Portrait as a Soldier, 1915

At the Table, 1916

Self-portrait as a Sick Person, 1917-20

The Sleigh Ride, 1923

Davos in Summer, 1925

View of Basel and the Rhine, 1927-28

Archers, 1935–37

Landscape in Graubünden with Sun Rays, 1937

Violett House in Front of a Snowy Mountain, 1938