Lovis Corinth (German 1858-1925)

Lovis Corinth, whose real name is Franz Heinrich Louis Corinth, is one of the most important exponents of German Impressionism. His artistic education began at the Königsberg art academy under Professor Otto Günther. Corinth accompanied Otto Günther on several journeys. In 1880 he went to Munich, where he continued his studies under Franz von Defregger and later under Ludwig Löfftz. His works of that period were influenced by the naturalist paintings of the Munich Leibl-Kreis. After a short stay in Antwerp, Corinth moved to Paris. In Paris Corinth attended the well-known Académie Julian, where he was taught by Bouguereau and Robert-Fleury. In 1891 Corinth returned to Munich, where he became a founding member of the Munich Sezession. Soon, however, the group started to crumble. Some artists split with the main group to form the Freie Vereinigung. Due to a lack of work the artist went to Berlin in 1901, where he opened a painting school for women. One of his first female students was his future wife Charlotte Berend. Corinth became an official member of the Berlin Sezession. When Liebermann was forced to step down as president, Corinth took over his position. In 1911 Corinth suffered a stroke and was temporarily paralysed on his left side. During Corinths illness, Paul Cassirer became chairman of the Berlin Sezession and in 1913 organized a retrospective, exhibiting 228 oil paintings. In 1915 Corinth was elected president of the Sezession. In 1917 he the Akademie der Künste in Berlin awarded him the title of Professor. After a summer holiday at Urfeld on Lake Walchensee, Corinth acquired a property there in 1918 and began to build his own house in 1919. Until 1924 the artist repeatedly spent several months at Haus Petermann in Urfeld. In his art this is reflected by a series of Walchensee landscapes. Accompanied by a former student, Corith travelled to Amsterdam in 1925 to see works by Rembrandt and Frans Hals. During this trip to Holland Corinth died of pneumonia. Corinths oeuvre includes more than 100 paintings and several books and essays on painting. Today Corinth is regarded as one of the Classics of Modern Art and his works are exhibited in the most important museums and galleries of the German-speaking world.