Making Modernism: Paula Modersohn-Becker, Kathe Kollwitz, Gabriele Munter and Marianne Werefkin

Early 20th-century German Expressionist artists such as Kaethe Kollwitz, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin challenged traditional feminine ideals and explored the female body through their art. Their portraits of children symbolize joy, hope, and innocence, while their radical depictions of the nude redefine the female body and express powerful maternity and female subjectivity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Royal Academy of Arts

In the early decades of the 20th century, a group of exceptional artists emerged in Germany, known as Expressionists. These artists, including Käthe Kollwitz, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin, played a significant role in shaping the artistic landscape of their time. Their work challenged prevailing ideals of feminine identity during a period of great societal change. While women were expected to marry and raise families, these artists chose to pursue their artistic ambitions.

As ambitious artists, they sought to work and express themselves through their art. Their portraits of children, for instance, capture a range of emotions, from joy and hope to melancholy and tension. These images symbolise the innocence and vulnerability of childhood, as well as the complexities of growing up. At the same time, their radical depictions of the nude challenged traditional notions of femininity and the male gaze. These artists sought to reclaim the female body and portray it in a new, expressive way that celebrated powerful maternity and female subjectivity.

Their dramatic modernist compositions pushed the boundaries of form, colour, and spiritual meaning. With their fluid brushwork and bright hues, they created works that were both visually stunning and emotionally powerful. These artists' contributions to Expressionism have left a lasting impact on the art world, and their work continues to inspire and challenge contemporary artists.

Weight: 1028g
Dimension: 236 x 277 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912520909