Emil Nolde
About the artist
Born 1867 in northern Germany, died 1956.
After having visited an art school in Flensburg where he was taught sketching and carving, Nolde began to paint. Dealing with landscapes of his home and the human he created pure expressionism and continuously drifted away from his sketchings: colorful, expressive and attracting.
Establishing himself as an artist he was affirmative of the national socialist, of the political thinking and especially their approach towards art. Thus he found support among some of the Nazi officials when they came to power in 1933: keeping the German art German and not allowing any foreign influence seemed to be his major concern. Nevertheless he too was to find himself on the black lists later – his art became classified as ‘entartet’ and thus forbidden.
Due to his political role during the time the Nazis were in power Nolde is considered quite controversial but nevertheless belongs to the most important artist of the 20th century and is among the greatest expressionist painters to have ever lived. Still being exhibited around the world, Noldes pieces are very popular and achieve top prices at some of the biggest auctions.
(Quelle: Nolde Stiftung, Die Zeit)
Inspirations
Though considered as entartet and being forbidden he remained a supporter of the Nazis: German art was to be German and to display the power and superiority of the German culture.
Colourful, expressive and very attracting. Nolde loved the colours and the individual messages and meanings they could create.
(Quelle: Nolde Stiftung, Die Zeit)
