Paula Modersohn Becker

Style: Expressionism; Post Impressionism;

Place: Dresden

Born: 1876

Death: 1907

Biography:

A Brief yet Groundbreaking Career

Paula Modersohn-Becker

, a German painter, left an indelible mark on the art world with her intense and expressive works, despite her career being cut short by postpartum embolism at the age of 31. As one of the most important representatives of early expressionism, she is increasingly recognized for her bold forays into subject matter and chromatic color choices, introducing modernism to the world alongside fellow artists Picasso and Matisse.

Early Life and Training

Born on February 8, 1876, in Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Paula Becker was the third child of seven. Her family provided a cultured and intellectual environment, with her father employed as an engineer and her mother from an aristocratic background. In 1888, the family moved to Bremen, where she received her first drawing instruction in London at St John's Wood Art School. She later studied under Fritz Mackensen in Worpswede, introducing her to the artists' circle that would influence her work.

Artistic Evolution and Influences

• Paula Modersohn-Becker's early work was characterized by realism and naturalism, with a simplicity of form. She later adopted Fauvism, influencing at least one of Picasso's paintings.
• Her ambivalence towards her subject matter and method of representation is evident in her unconventional approach to the female nude.
• Influenced by post-impressionists like Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin, she visited contemporary exhibitions often, particularly intrigued by their work.

Notable Works and Legacy

• Girl with a Baby Among Birch Trees (Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, United States), showcasing her unique blend of expressionism and naturalism.
• Landschaft mit drei Kindern und Ziege (Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, Austria), reflecting her Fauvist influences.
• Reclining Mother And Child, a poignant depiction of motherhood, now part of the Kunsthalle Bremen collection.

Explore more of Paula Modersohn-Becker's works on Wikioo.org:

* [https://Wikioo.org/@@/D432X4-Paula-Modersohn-Becker-Girl-with-a-Baby-Among-Birch-Trees](https://Wikioo.org/@@/D432X4-Paula-Modersohn-Becker-Girl-with-a-Baby-Among-Birch-Trees) * [https://Wikioo.org/@/Paula-Modersohn-Becker](https://Wikioo.org/@/Paula-Modersohn-Becker)

Discover the world of art with Wikioo.org's extensive collection:

* [https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3C5ZH-The-Art-Media-Woodcut](https://Wikioo.org/@@/A@D3C5ZH) * [https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/Timeline](https://en.Wikioo.org.com/Art.nsf/Timeline)