Max Pechstein (1881-1955) - A German Expressionist Painter and Printmaker
Max Hermann Pechstein or Max Pechstein, a German 'Expressionist' painter and a printmaker, was born on December 31, 1881, in Zwickau, Germany.
He commenced his artistic journey as an apprentice to a decoration painter at his native.
Art works of Vincent Van Gogh were the key catalysts for developing Pechstein's orientation towards 'Expressionism.
' In 1903, Max enrolled at the Dresden Academy and within a year, was a favorite student' of Professor Otto Gussmann.
The artist won the 'Saxon State Prize' for his wall paintings and for stained-glass windows & mosaics designs.
In his last year of graduation, Max painted several ceilings and an altarpiece for the 'Third German Crafts Exhibit' in Dresden.
Here, he befriended Erich Heckel, one of the founders of the Die Brucke (The Bridge) art group.
In 1906, after graduating with top honors, Max Pechstein joined the Die Brucke art group.
He was the sole member of the group with a formal training in arts.
Pechstein migrated to Berlin in 1910.
There he was elected the President of the Neue Secession (new secession), which had its first exhibition at the Galerie Macht.
The artist earned recognition for his vivid and decorative paintings, greatly influenced by the ideas of Van Gogh, Matisse, and the Fauves.
Max's art evolved to 'Primitivism,' identified by thick, black, angular lines.
By now, he had mastered Graphic Art and shifted his focus to make the sculptures of figures and heads.
He was one of the most admired 'Expressionists' of all and had a leadership position in the Brucke group.
Along with his Brucke friends, the artist opened an ephemeral art school in 1911, called MUIM Institut (Moderner Unterricht in Malerei, or modern instruction in painting).
However, Max was ousted from the group in 1912, after he exhibited at the Berlin Secession; having defied the Die Brucke policy of exhibiting together only.
In 1914, the artist traveled to the Palau Islands, Pacific, to explore natural life, and theme his paintings around it.
Owing to the beginning of World War I, however, Max had to curtail the duration of his stay at the islands.
He then served in the German army until 1917.
Post war, Max made numerous woodcuts, inspired by his Pacific experiences.
In addition, he designed for books, stained-glass windows, and mosaics.
Pechstein co-founded with others two of the most active artist organizations, Arbeitsrat fur Kunst (Workers' Council for the Arts) and the Novembergruppe.
In 1926, Max designed a 'windows' series for the International Labor Office in Geneva.
The artist received several recognitions from several states in Germany, including one from the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Max lectured at the Berlin Academy for ten years, until his dismissal in 1933 by the Nazis, followed by their subsequent removal of around 326 of his art works from several German museums.
It took Max close to twelve years to restore his confidence.
He resumed his teaching job at the Berlin Academy in 1945, continuing it for the rest of his life.
The artist's printmaking involved lithographs, woodcuts, linocuts, and intaglio.
Max Pechstein breathed his last on June 19, 1955.
He commenced his artistic journey as an apprentice to a decoration painter at his native.
Art works of Vincent Van Gogh were the key catalysts for developing Pechstein's orientation towards 'Expressionism.
' In 1903, Max enrolled at the Dresden Academy and within a year, was a favorite student' of Professor Otto Gussmann.
The artist won the 'Saxon State Prize' for his wall paintings and for stained-glass windows & mosaics designs.
In his last year of graduation, Max painted several ceilings and an altarpiece for the 'Third German Crafts Exhibit' in Dresden.
Here, he befriended Erich Heckel, one of the founders of the Die Brucke (The Bridge) art group.
In 1906, after graduating with top honors, Max Pechstein joined the Die Brucke art group.
He was the sole member of the group with a formal training in arts.
Pechstein migrated to Berlin in 1910.
There he was elected the President of the Neue Secession (new secession), which had its first exhibition at the Galerie Macht.
The artist earned recognition for his vivid and decorative paintings, greatly influenced by the ideas of Van Gogh, Matisse, and the Fauves.
Max's art evolved to 'Primitivism,' identified by thick, black, angular lines.
By now, he had mastered Graphic Art and shifted his focus to make the sculptures of figures and heads.
He was one of the most admired 'Expressionists' of all and had a leadership position in the Brucke group.
Along with his Brucke friends, the artist opened an ephemeral art school in 1911, called MUIM Institut (Moderner Unterricht in Malerei, or modern instruction in painting).
However, Max was ousted from the group in 1912, after he exhibited at the Berlin Secession; having defied the Die Brucke policy of exhibiting together only.
In 1914, the artist traveled to the Palau Islands, Pacific, to explore natural life, and theme his paintings around it.
Owing to the beginning of World War I, however, Max had to curtail the duration of his stay at the islands.
He then served in the German army until 1917.
Post war, Max made numerous woodcuts, inspired by his Pacific experiences.
In addition, he designed for books, stained-glass windows, and mosaics.
Pechstein co-founded with others two of the most active artist organizations, Arbeitsrat fur Kunst (Workers' Council for the Arts) and the Novembergruppe.
In 1926, Max designed a 'windows' series for the International Labor Office in Geneva.
The artist received several recognitions from several states in Germany, including one from the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Max lectured at the Berlin Academy for ten years, until his dismissal in 1933 by the Nazis, followed by their subsequent removal of around 326 of his art works from several German museums.
It took Max close to twelve years to restore his confidence.
He resumed his teaching job at the Berlin Academy in 1945, continuing it for the rest of his life.
The artist's printmaking involved lithographs, woodcuts, linocuts, and intaglio.
Max Pechstein breathed his last on June 19, 1955.
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