Modern Bohemia, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1924

Ernst Ludwig KirchnerTyskland, 1880–1938

Modern Bohemia

1924 · Painting · 125.1 × 165.42 cm

Om maleriet

In 1906, Kirchner co-founded the Dresden expressionist group known as Die Brücke (The Bridge), an avant-garde movement that investigated the realities and fantasies of a life lived with freedom, intensity, and eroticism. Modern and non-western arts were the means of their exploration—with study of the nude at the center of their practice.

Kirchner brings all these elements together in Modern Bohemia —a depiction of his lodgings in Switzerland—to express the ideal creative environment. The forms of artist, author, nude, and female spectator are united with those of Caucasian carpets and sculptural objects inspired by tribal art in a complex balance of form, pattern and color. The artist's modulation of color intensity and placement of horizontal and vertical brushstrokes evoke a woven surface effect that firmly places this painting in what is known as Kirchner's tapestry period.

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Oplysninger

Inventarnummer: 55.3

Imens i livet hos Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Hele livet

1923
A large exhibition in Basel
In 1923 Kirchner organised a large exhibition of his work in Basel.
1923
Moves to the Wildboden house
In 1923 Kirchner moved to the Wildboden house, which looked over Frauenkirch and the Stafelalp on one side and Davos on the other; these landscapes became subjects of many of his paintings. In his diary he called the house a joy and a turning point of his life.
1923
Illustrations for Georg Heym’s “Umbra Vitae”
At the same time Kirchner worked on illustrations for the poet Georg Heym’s book “Umbra Vitae.”
1925
Albert Müller and the Rot-Blau group
In 1925 Kirchner became close friends with the painter Albert Müller and his family; the founders of the Basel group Rot-Blau (“Red-Blue”) — Hermann Scherer, Albert Müller, Paul Camenisch and Hans Schiess — visited him and worked under his guidance.
1925–1926
Declines to found a new group
In Berlin Kirchner met Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, who wanted him to form a new artists’ group; Kirchner politely refused.
1925–1926
A trip to Germany: Frankfurt, Chemnitz, Berlin