Lovis Corinth

Here he was in contact with Arnold Böcklin, Max Klinger and Hans Thoma. During this period, Corinth was intensely occupied with “pleinairism”. He also created portraits, nudes and religious and mythological history paintings, some of which were surprising on account of their direct naturalism. After a decade in Munich, the artist moved to Berlin, where he became a member of the Berlin Secession and, in 1911, was elected its president. In Berlin he created not only various self-portraits, but also portraits of numerous patrons who were important figures in society. Following a stroke in 1911, Corinth’s paintings are characterised by an increasing intensity and boldness. Between 1919 and 1925, he repeatedly stayed along the Walchensee, where he painted around 60 landscape paintings. In the final years of his life, in an intense struggle to achieve pure painting, the artist progressed on to an impressive late style that cannot be classified and also decisively influenced the art of the late 20th century. As a graphic artist, Corinth also left behind a very extensive oeuvre and created numerous cycles of illustrations. Lovis Corinth is among the most important representatives of German Impressionism.