Max Pechstein

Max Pechstein was a German painter and printmaker born on December 31, 1881, in Zwickau, Germany, and died on June 29, 1955, in Berlin. He was a prominent member of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, which he joined in 1906. Pechstein's work is characterized by its vibrant use of color and dynamic compositions, often reflecting influences from Fauvism and Primitivism. He studied at the Dresden School of Applied Arts and later at the Royal Academy of Art in Dresden.

Pechstein's early works were influenced by his travels to Italy and the South Seas, particularly his time in Palau, which significantly impacted his artistic style. His notable works include Indian and Woman (1910) and The Yellow Mask (1912). During World War I, Pechstein served in the military, which interrupted his artistic production. After the war, he became a member of the Novembergruppe and the Berlin Secession, where he continued to exhibit his works.

In 1933, with the rise of the Nazi regime, Pechstein's art was labeled as "degenerate," and he was banned from exhibiting. Despite this, he continued to work in relative obscurity until the end of World War II. After the war, he was appointed a professor at the Berlin University of the Arts, where he influenced a new generation of artists. His works are held in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Berlinische Galerie. Pechstein's contributions to German Expressionism remain significant, reflecting his commitment to exploring the human condition through bold and emotive visual language.