Lovis Corinth is a German artist whose work combines different styles and genres in a unique way.

Corinth Lovis Corinth – the famous German artist of the late XIX – first quarter of the XX centuries, an outstanding master of historical and portrait genres. Lovis Corinth also painted many landscapes and nude paintings. At the initial stage of his work, he worked mainly in a realistic style, then he became interested in impressionism. And at the end of his career, the master’s works acquired pronounced expressionist qualities.

Lovis Corinth was also an outstanding graphic artist, producing a vast number of drawings and prints. In addition, he wrote a number of important scientific works on the theory of fine arts and for many years held the prestigious post of president of the Berlin Secession.

Biography

Lovis Corinth was born on July 21, 1858 into a wealthy family of a farmer and owner of a leather workshop in the city of Tapiau. Today, this settlement is in the composition. Five of his older siblings were born from his mother’s first marriage.

Lovis spent his early school years in Königsberg, where he lived with his aunt while studying at a prestigious private gymnasium. But after the death of his mother in 1873, he returned to Tapiau and soon decided to become a painter. The father loved his only son very much. He sold the house, land and workshop in order to pay for the further education of the young man with the proceeds.

In 1876, 18-year-old Lovis Corinth entered the Königsberg Academy of Arts, where he studied for the next four years. As a student, he often traveled to different cities in Germany with his mentor. And in the evenings he painted landscapes and portraits.

Paintings in the style of realism

22-year-old Corinth went to the south of the German Empire and entered the Bavarian Art Academy. After his sophomore year, Lovis was drafted into the army for a year, and then he returned to training. In Munich, the young artist joined a group of students – supporters of realism. Having received his diploma, in 1884 Corinth left for Belgium, where he lived for three months, and then went to Paris.

Until the end of the 19th century, Lovis Corinth remained faithful to realistic art, he admired the works of Gustave Courbet, Jules-Bastien Lepage and Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier.

After studying for another year at the Julian Academy, Lovis Corinth returned to Königsberg to his sick father. They lived together for several years, and this period was the most difficult in the life of the painter. The young artist could not achieve success in the professional field. His paintings were not sold, and his beloved father was gradually fading away from a fatal illness.

In January 1889, Corinth Sr. died and Lovis decided to leave Koenigsberg forever. Unexpectedly, he received the pleasant news that one of his paintings had won an award at the 1890 Paris Salon. Encouraged by the news, the painter decided to move to Munich.

Career Success

In 1892, the long-awaited breakthrough finally took place in the artist’s career after the creation of a series of paintings describing the horrors of slaughter and butchering of cattle. Realistic paintings shocked critics and the public. He joined the “Munich Secession” – an association of revolutionary-minded young colleagues.

In 1900, Corinth painted the famous “Salome” and wanted to present it at the next exhibition of the Munich Secession. But suddenly received a refusal from the founders. Wounded by resentment, Lovis moved permanently to the capital of the German Empire. Here, in 1901, he joined the “Berlin Secession” and soon became one of the main leaders of the association.

In 1903, Lovis Corinth married the artist Charlotte Behrend, with whom he lived happily in marriage until his death. His wife gave him two children – son Thomas and daughter Wilhemina. For many years she played the role of a model when writing paintings in the nude genre.

In 1911, Lovis Corinth was elected president of the Berlin Secession. But in December of the same year, the 53-year-old master suddenly suffered a stroke. Due to health problems, Corinth retired. Together with his wife and children, he went on a trip to Europe.

last years of life

Returning to Berlin in 1915, Lovis Corinth was elected president of the renewed Free Secession. In 1919, Corinth bought a piece of land on the banks of the picturesque Bavarian lake Walchensee. Together with his wife, he built a house here and lived happily in it.

In the summer of 1925, the master decided to visit Amsterdam to once again enjoy the masterpieces of the great Rembrandt. But on the way he caught a cold and did not reach the capital of the Netherlands. On July 17, 1925, just four days before his 67th birthday, Lovis Corinth died in the small town of Zandvoort. His body was transported to Berlin and buried with great honors in the local cemetery.