EMIL NOLDE

07.08.1867 Nolde - 13.04.1956 Seebüll

Emil Nolde is one of the leading representatives

of Expressionism. For the painter and graphic

artist, who was a member of Die Brücke group

of artists from 1906–07, colour was the most

important means of artistic expression.

Influenced by van Gogh, Gauguin and Munch

the object-related shapes in his compositions

take second place to liberal and bold

applications of colour. Among the first

Expressionists he is considered to be not only

one of the great watercolour painters but one of

the best colourists of the 20th century . Emil

Nolde's pictures are famous for their fierce

quality, distorted drawing,and turbulent

colour.

“Art is exalted above religions

and races. Not a single solitary

soul these days believes in the

religions of the Assyrians, the

Egyptians, and the Greeks. And

their races are exhausted,

crossbred and spoiled. Only

their art, whenever it was

beautiful, stands proud and

exalted, rising above all time”.

-

(Emil Nolde )

Head with Pipe (Self Portrait -

1907) Lithograph

“There is silver blue, sky blue and

thunder blue. Every colour holds

within it a soul, which makes me

happy or repels me, and which acts

as a stimulus. To a person who has

no art in him, colours are colours,

tones tones...and that is all. All

their consequences for the human

spirit, which range between heaven

to hell, just go unnoticed.”

(Emil Nolde)

Nolde's intense

preoccupation with the

subject of flowers reflect

his continuing interest

in the art of Vincent

Van Gogh.

Violas (1908)

1915

Crocus Blossoms, 1914

1915

c. 1920

c.1925-30

1922

1922

1925-1930

1935-40

Audio: Frank Zappa - Bolero (Ravel)