
Lyonel Feininger德国, 1871–1956Born in New York City, Lyonel Feininger lived in Germany, his parent's homeland, for most of his life. After a brief stay in Paris in 1911, Feininger embraced Cubism, declaring that What one sees must be transformed in the mind and crystallized. However, he preferred to call his style prism-ism, saying it was based upon the principle of monumentality. While living in Weimar in 1913, Feininger began exploring such nearby villages as Grosse-Kromsdorf, the subject of this painting. Attracted to the town's medieval architecture, he spent hours studying its churches and other structures to find the secret of their form.
明尼阿波利斯美術館
1908–1919
Years in Berlin, the “marine” pictures
From 1908 to 1919 he lives in Berlin and paints a series of “marine” pictures in the spirit of Caspar David Friedrich.
1909–1918
Summers on the island of Usedom
From 1909 to 1918 he spends his summer vacations on the island of Usedom to recover and find new inspiration; typical works of these years are marine scenes from the Baltic shore. He keeps painting and drawing Benz for the rest of his life, even after returning to live in the United States.
1913
The First German Autumn Salon
In 1913 he takes part in the exhibition of the First German Autumn Salon in Berlin.
1917
First solo exhibition at Der Sturm
In 1917 his first solo exhibition opens at the Sturm gallery in Berlin and brings him fame. In these years he works with the Expressionists gathered around the gallery and, under their influence, produces many graphic works.