House among Trees (Fehmarn)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner painted "House among Trees (Fehmarn)" in 1913, a year that marked a significant turning point in his career and the end of the Die Brücke (The Bridge) artist group he co-founded. This painting likely stems from his frequent summer visits to the island of Fehmarn between 1907 and 1914, where he and other Brücke members often depicted nudes in natural settings. Kirchner, a pivotal figure in German Expressionism, sought to create a new artistic expression, a "bridge" between past and present, often reviving older media like woodcut prints. His work, characterized by directness and emotional intensity, was a reaction against traditional academic styles. While this piece doesn't feature nudes, it showcases his distinctive style with its bold forms and vibrant, almost raw, application of color, echoing the spontaneity he encouraged in his life-drawing sessions. The year 1913 also saw Kirchner establish a more individual identity with his first solo exhibition at the Essen Folkwang Museum, moving beyond the collective identity of Die Brücke.