Karl Schmidt-Rottluff

Born in Germany in 1884, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff was a key Expressionist painter and printmaker. He is perhaps best known for being one of the founding members of the artistic collective Die Brücke. Characterized by the use of vibrant hues and raw marks, Schmidt's work has often been associated with a post-Impressionist style of painting. Following the formation of Die Brücke, the artist took on the name of his hometown as a surname. 

Schmidt studied at the Polytechnic University of Dresden, before ultimately moving to Berlin.  He returned to the city in 1947 to teach at the Academy of Fine Arts after an exile during World War II. The artist remained here until his death in 1976.