Paula Modersohn-Becker

The catalog showcases the pioneering artwork of Paula Modersohn-Becker, a modernist icon who defied conventions with her bold depictions of the nude, self-portraits, and still-life. It explores the evolution of an artist responding to cultural change at the turn of the nineteenth century, featuring her diverse range of works, including figure drawings, still-lifes, self-portraits, landscapes, nudes, and portraits.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 07 June 2024
Publisher: Prestel

This exhibition catalog explores the groundbreaking work of a pioneering artist who defied conventions in her daring representations of the nude, self-portraits, and still-life. A true iconoclast of her time, Paula Modersohn-Becker is now revered as a symbol of modernity. Throughout her illustrious career, Modersohn-Becker fearlessly experimented with various styles, relentlessly seeking to capture the essence of everyday life and her unique female perspective. This monograph examines the vast expanse of her artistic oeuvre, encompassing figure drawings, still-lifes, self-portraits, landscapes, nudes, and portraits of young girls and older women. Through this comprehensive examination, we witness the evolution of an artist responding to seismic cultural shifts at the turn of the nineteenth century. Whether she embraced or challenged the principles of realism, naturalism, impressionism, symbolism, or expressionism, Modersohn-Becker remained deeply interested in exploring issues of identity and peeling away the superficial layers to reveal what she believed to be the true essence of life. This book showcases numerous examples of Modersohn-Becker's striking and relatively unknown drawings of men, women, and children grappling with poverty, as well as her highly original figure paintings and nudes, including her groundbreaking nude self-portraits. Accompanying the first museum exhibition of Modersohn-Becker's work in the United States, this catalog unveils the deeply personal and authentic artistic journey of an artist who steadfastly forged her own path.

Weight: 567g
Dimension: 286 x 235 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783791377346