ERNST LUDWIG KIRCHNER

In 1905, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was one of the founding members of the art movement Die Brücke (The Bridge). The Brücke style attempted the creation of pure expression through color and form. Their aim was to find new ways of artistic expression and to free themselves from the traditional academic style of the time. The Brücke is therefore one of the earliest German artists’ associations which had a crucial impact on the development of classical modern art. The artists collectively created a style which was to be defined within 20th century art history as Expressionism.

In 1937 the Nazis confiscated nearly all of Kirchners's paintings that were in German museums (over 600).  Already suffering from mental problems (he suffered a nervous breakdown during his service in World War I), Kirchner committed suicide in 1938.

Here are three of his masterpieces that are part of the permanent collection of the St. Louis Art Museum.

Portrait of a Woman (1917)

View of the Basel and the Rhine (1927/1928)

Circus Rider (1914)

CHRIST SHOWN TO THE PEOPLE (ECCE HOMO)

By the glow of blazing torchlight Pontius Pilate presents Christ to the unseen crowd that will decide his fate.  Pilate's extravagent, fur-lined coat and the page's opulent jewelry contrast with the nearly naked Christ.  Christ's simple yet eloquent expression contrasts with the ample jowls and corpulent cheeks of his judge, and the richly detailed costumes of the page and Pilate make Christ's partial nudity even more touching.

Having painted the subject of Christ shown to the people several times before, Tiziano Vecellio, born between 1488 and 1490 near Venice, and known to the art world as Titian, returned to the theme at the very end of his career, working on this painting from 1570 up until his death in 1576.  The painting looks unfinished due to the sketchiness of the flickering torch at the upper left corner.  Titian was one of the most sought-after painters of his day, by both popes and secular rulers.  For nearly sixty years he would be the most important member of the 16th century Venetian school of painters.  His powerful brushstrokes, subdued palette and emotional subjects were typical of his late style.

This painting is part of the fantastic, permanent collection of the St. Louis Art Museum.