Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Emile Nolde died in 1956; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2026.
In context
Old King — Emile Nolde
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 89 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Emile Nolde (1867–1956) every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1909 Main working years: 1909–1919 Late works: from 1919
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/emile-nolde-old-king-8LHT5B-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Midnight Blue #243774
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 62.7% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 321 works by this artist, of which 154 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 82 of them, with 0.2% of that attention (100 visits). The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Nordel, Germany
Emil Nolde, a renowned German-Danish painter, was born Hans Emil Hansen on August 7, 1867, in Nolde, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He came from a family with strong ties to rural life and religious beliefs, factors that would profoundly influence his artistic vision. Despite initial resistance from his parents, who preferred he pursue a more conventional career, Nolde relentlessly pursued his passion for art. He initially worked as a wood carver and furniture decorator before dedicating himself fully to painting in his late twenties.
Nolde’s artistic journey was marked by self-education and exploration. He traveled extensively, absorbing influences from various cultures and art forms. Early influences included Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and traditional folk art – particularly the expressive power of primitive masks and carvings. These encounters sparked his interest in bold colors, simplified forms, and emotionally charged subject matter. He initially experimented with Realism and Impressionism but quickly moved towards a more subjective and expressive style.
In 1905, Nolde co-founded Die Brücke (The Bridge), a pivotal group of German Expressionist artists. This collective sought to break away from academic traditions and express inner emotions through radical artistic experimentation. Nolde’s contribution to Die Brücke was significant; his intense use of color and distorted forms pushed the boundaries of representation. However, he maintained a somewhat independent path within the group, often diverging in subject matter and stylistic approach.
Nolde’s oeuvre is characterized by several recurring themes: religious scenes, landscapes, seascapes, and portraits. He was particularly fascinated by the power of masks – both as physical objects and symbolic representations of primal emotions. His artistic style is defined by:
Bold, vibrant colors used to convey emotional intensity
Distorted forms that emphasize expression over realistic representation
Impasto technique - thick application of paint creating texture
A focus on capturing inner psychological states
Throughout his career, Nolde created a vast body of work. Some of his most celebrated paintings include:
Masks (1906-1907) – showcasing his fascination with primitive art
The Mocking of Christ (1909) – a powerful and emotionally charged religious scene
Autumn Sea (1908) - demonstrating his expressive landscape painting.
Flower Garden (Girl and Washing) (1907)
Dance around the Golden Calf (1909)
Despite facing criticism and censorship during the Nazi regime – his work was deemed “degenerate” – Nolde continued to paint in secret. He produced a significant body of watercolor paintings during this period, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to artistic expression.
Emil Nolde’s innovative use of color and expressive brushwork profoundly influenced generations of artists. His work bridged the gap between traditional representational art and the abstract movements that followed. He remains a central figure in the history of German Expressionism, celebrated for his emotional intensity, bold experimentation, and enduring artistic vision. His legacy continues to inspire artists and art lovers worldwide.
wikioo.org/en/art/download/emile-nolde-old-king-8LHT5B-en/
Look closely
Old King — Emile Nolde
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
A print of "Old King" by Emile Nolde can be ordered directly on its Fine Art Print page: a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper.
Hand-painted copies of "Old King" by Emile Nolde are sold on this website: a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas, ordered from its Hand-Painted Reproduction page.
The copyright status of "Old King" - in the public domain - its copyright has expired - follows from the artist's death in 1956.