Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German expressionist painter who was born on May 6th, 1880 in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria. He is remembered for helping to form a group of artists known as The Bridge, and they were some of the most well known Expressionists of the day.

He was a volunteer in the army during the first world war, but was discharged after a nervous breakdown in 1916. After this incident he was committed to a mental institution (which have historically caused more harm than good, as a side note). He was very mentally ill and grappled with similar issues for his whole life, which inevitably were the cause of his death. He committed suicide by shooting himself on June 15th in 1938 in Davos, Switzerland. He was fifty-eight years old at the time.

An important part of Expressionism is that it is very loose and well, expressive, and much more emotionally full than what was the traditional style of art previously. This can be clearly seen in his work, which is very raw and rough looking.

The art studio that Kirchner and the other artists of The Bridge worked in was truly Bohemian, and messy. Also, there was frequent nudity (as the human body was very important to Kirchner's work) as well as plenty of sexual activity.

The female form was mostly what he focused on, but he also painted landscapes and portraits. His use of wild and bright contrasting colors really makes his art very distinct. His colors are my favorite part of his work, and they draw the eye to them very well. His art demands to be viewed. His brushwork is also very expressive and complex without being overwhelming. His art is quite beautiful and well worth a look.