Zwei Mädchenköpfe

1890s

The Realgymnasium in Chemnitz and first woodcuts

In Chemnitz Kirchner attended the Realgymnasium, made his first attempts at woodcut printing under his father’s guidance and took private lessons in watercolour.

1898

Nuremberg and Dürer: the decision to become a painter

On a school trip to Nuremberg in 1898 the young Kirchner saw the printing blocks of early woodcuts and incunabula at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and, inspired by the art of Albrecht Dürer, decided to become a painter; he later wrote that this experience shaped his aim of renewing German art.

1901

Architecture in Dresden and friendship with Bleyl

Kirchner’s parents encouraged his artistic bent but wanted him to complete a formal education, so in 1901 he began to study architecture in Dresden. In the very first term he became close to Fritz Bleyl: together they talked about art and studied nature, sharing a radical outlook.