Lovis Corinth
1858 Tapiau – Zandvoort 1925
Short information about the artist
Lovis Corinth is one of the most important German artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a painter, draughtsman and graphic artist, he created a unique body of work that lies somewhere between German Impressionism and Expressionism. This stylistic combination gives his works their characteristic, stubborn and often dramatic effect, which clearly distinguishes him from his contemporaries.
More information about the artist
Lovis Corinth is one of the most important German artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a painter, draughtsman and graphic artist, he created a unique body of work that lies somewhere between German Impressionism and Expressionism. This stylistic combination gives his works their characteristic, stubborn and often dramatic effect, which clearly distinguishes him from his contemporaries.
Artistic development and training
Lovis Corinth began studying art in 1876 at the Königsberg Academy and continued his studies at the renowned Munich Academy from 1880 onwards. The works of Wilhelm Trübner and Wilhelm Leibl were important influences on him and had a lasting impact on his early style. In 1884, he broadened his artistic horizons by studying in Antwerp and at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he remained until 1887 and received decisive inspiration for his further development.
Years in Munich and artistic establishment
In 1901, Corinth moved to Berlin, where he embarked on a new creative phase. Here he opened a painting school for women and met the most important artists of his time: Max Liebermann, Max Slevogt and Bruno Cassirer. As a member of the Berlin Secession, he was elected to its board the following year, underscoring his central position in the German art scene. His years in Berlin were marked by intense artistic productivity and increasing success.
Berlin success and breakthrough
In 1901, Corinth moved to Berlin, where he embarked on a new creative phase. Here he opened a painting school for women and met the most important artists of his time: Max Liebermann, Max Slevogt and Bruno Cassirer. As a member of the Berlin Secession, he was elected to its board the following year, underscoring his central position in the German art scene. His years in Berlin were marked by intense artistic productivity and increasing success.
A stroke of fate and a stylistic shift
In 1911, Corinth suffered a severe stroke that left him paralysed on one side and marked a decisive turning point in his artistic career. In 1912, he travelled to the Riviera to recuperate, where he found new inspiration. In 1913, the Berlin Secession organised a major retrospective of his work, cementing his fame. When the Free Secession was founded under Liebermann’s leadership, Corinth remained the only renowned artist associated with the old association, demonstrating his loyalty and independent path.
Late masterpieces at Walchensee
After the collapse of the German Empire in 1918, which shook him deeply, Corinth increasingly withdrew from city life. From 1919 onwards, he spent much of his time at his house in Urfeld am Walchensee, where he created some of his most important late works. In 1922, he participated in the exhibition at the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, demonstrating his international recognition. In 1923, the National Gallery in Berlin held a major anniversary exhibition with over 170 works to mark his 65th birthday.
Artistic legacy and international presence
Corinth’s oeuvre includes psychologically compelling portraits, colourful landscapes and floral still lifes, as well as religious themes in brighter colours in his later years. In 1925, he became an honorary member of the Bavarian Academy and died in Zandvoort, Holland, in the same year. His works are now held in major international museums, including the Museum Folkwang in Essen, the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne, the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain in Strasbourg, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Tate Modern in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This global presence underscores Corinth’s importance as one of the most significant representatives of German modernism, whose unique synthesis of Impressionism and Expressionism continues to fascinate to this day.