Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German painter and printmaker born on May 6, 1880, in Aschaffenburg, Germany. He was a leading figure in the Expressionist movement and a founding member of the influential artist group Die Brücke, established in 1905. Kirchner's work is characterized by its bold use of color and dynamic compositions, which sought to convey emotional experience rather than physical reality. His career was significantly impacted by the trauma of World War I, leading to a period of mental health struggles and eventual relocation to Switzerland. Despite being labeled a "degenerate artist" by the Nazi regime, Kirchner's contributions to modern art have been widely recognized for their innovative approach and profound influence on 20th-century art. He died by suicide on June 15, 1938, in Frauenkirch, near Davos, Switzerland.