Ernst Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was a German Expressionist painter and co-founder of the influential art group Die Brücke (The Bridge). His work is known for its raw, angular forms, vivid colors, and emotional intensity. Kirchner depicted urban life, nudes, and street scenes—especially in pre-World War I Berlin—with a sense of psychological unease. His style reflected both modern alienation and primitivist fascination. Suffering from mental health issues exacerbated by the war, he retreated to Switzerland, where his work became more introspective. Branded as “degenerate” by the Nazis, Kirchner died by suicide in 1938. His legacy is central to German modernism.