Portrait of Lyonel Feininger

Lyonel Feininger: Catalogue of the 100 Most Famous Paintings

Updated oktober 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 188 works by Lyonel Feininger in our catalogue

Samenvatting

The honeymooners is recorded as the most famous painting of Lyonel Feininger. Boats (1917) and Sailing Boats occupy the second and third entries. Of the 188 works by Lyonel Feininger recorded in the catalogue, the 100 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.

1871 – 1956, New York Expressionism Most works: Art Institute of Chicago

Entries 1 to 10: the most famous Lyonel Feininger paintings

1
The honeymooners by Lyonel Feininger

The honeymooners

Oil On Canvas

is a work by Lyonel Feininger. Born in New York City in 1871, the artist developed a distinctive visual language that bridged the gap between commercial graphic design and fine art. His career transitioned from successful caricatures for various magazines to a significant role within the Expressionist movement.

2
Boats (1917) by Lyonel Feininger

Boats

1917 · Oil On Canvas

In the vast landscape of early twentieth-century modernism, few works capture the rhythmic pulse of movement and light as elegantly as Lyonel Feininger’s Boats. Painted in 1917, this masterpiece serves as a breathtaking bridge between the whimsical precision of graphic illustration and the profound structural depth of Cubism. At first glance, the viewer is greeted by a serene maritime scene, yet upon closer inspection, the water and vessels dissolve into…

3
Sailing Boats by Lyonel Feininger

Sailing Boats

Watercolor

Sailing Boats is a work by the American artist Lyonel Feininger. The composition focuses on the subject of sailing boats at sea, capturing a specific moment of maritime activity or tranquility. The arrangement of the vessels suggests a quietude within the expanse of the water.

4
Blue Coast by Lyonel Feininger

Blue Coast

Oil On Canvas

The scene unfolds in Blue Coast, a work that captures a quiet moment upon the water. The artist, Lyonel Feininger, directs our gaze toward a serene maritime setting where sailboats drift through a calm expanse. There is a sense of stillness here, as if the wind has paused its movement to allow the vessels to glide toward one another in a silent meeting. The composition centers on these nautical forms,…

6
Gelmeroda IX by Lyonel Feininger

Gelmeroda IX

Painting · Museum Folkwang, Essen

To stand before this evocative scene, captured in the timeless interplay of black and white, is to step across a threshold into a moment suspended between memory and permanence. Gelmeroda IX presents us with a tableau vivant centered around an imposing church structure, its large tower rising like a steadfast sentinel against an unseen sky. The composition is richly populated, not by dramatic action, but by the quiet gathering of…

7
Carnival by Lyonel Feininger

Carnival

Oil On Canvas

The street comes alive in Carnival, a spirited oil on canvas work by Lyonel Feininger. Created in 1911, this piece captures a moment of public celebration. The scene unfolds with a sense of movement, as if the viewer has just stepped into the middle of a bustling procession. People move through the space, their presence adding a layer of human energy to the urban setting.

Lyonel Feininger, further entries: 11 to 100

11Carnival in Arcueil (1911) by Lyonel FeiningerCarnival in Arcueil1911 · Art Institute of Chicago 12Vollersroda III (1916) by Lyonel FeiningerVollersroda III1916 13Scheunenstraße (1914) by Lyonel FeiningerScheunenstraße1914 14Gelmeroda II (1917) by Lyonel FeiningerGelmeroda II1917 · Neue Galerie New York 15Rain Clarity (1927) by Lyonel FeiningerRain Clarity1927 16Church of the Minorites II (1926) by Lyonel FeiningerChurch of the Minorites II1926 · Walker Art Center 17The Motor Boat by Lyonel FeiningerThe Motor Boat 18Stranded by Lyonel FeiningerStranded 19Yachts (1950) by Lyonel FeiningerYachts1950 · National Gallery of Canada 20Fishing boats 1 by Lyonel FeiningerFishing boats 1 21City at Night by Lyonel FeiningerCity at Night 22Cathedral of Socialism by Lyonel FeiningerCathedral of Socialism 23Markwippach by Lyonel FeiningerMarkwippach 24Possendorf III by Lyonel FeiningerPossendorf III 25Darkened street by Lyonel FeiningerDarkened street 26Longeuil, Normandie (1909) by Lyonel FeiningerLongeuil, Normandie1909 · Art Institute of Chicago 27Railroad Embankment with Barracks, Zehlendorf by Lyonel FeiningerRailroad Embankment with Barracks, Zehlendorf 28Adventure II by Lyonel FeiningerAdventure II 29Merry Xmas! by Lyonel FeiningerMerry Xmas! 30Ship with Sun and Moon by Lyonel FeiningerShip with Sun and Moon 31Dune II by Lyonel FeiningerDune II 32The Gay Child by Lyonel FeiningerThe Gay Child 33Postal party lanterns by Lyonel FeiningerPostal party lanterns 34Leo studies Bach fugues by Lyonel FeiningerLeo studies Bach fugues 35Railroad Workers by Lyonel FeiningerRailroad Workers 36Star House by Lyonel FeiningerStar House 37Winter Night by Lyonel FeiningerWinter Night 38Characters from ''Wee Willie Winkie'' by Lyonel FeiningerCharacters from ''Wee Willie Winkie'' 39Inside the city wall by Lyonel FeiningerInside the city wall 40Old Shell Backs by Lyonel FeiningerOld Shell Backs 41Arrival of the Boat by Lyonel FeiningerArrival of the Boat 42The green bridge 1 by Lyonel FeiningerThe green bridge 1 43Karneval in Gelmeroda II by Lyonel FeiningerKarneval in Gelmeroda II 44Rainy Day on the Beach by Lyonel FeiningerRainy Day on the Beach 45Jesuits I by Lyonel FeiningerJesuits I 46The sleeper - Julia by Lyonel FeiningerThe sleeper - Julia 47The red violonist by Lyonel FeiningerThe red violonist 48People on the boardwalk by Lyonel FeiningerPeople on the boardwalk 49Sketch for the 41 birthday of Walter Gropius 1924 by Lyonel FeiningerSketch for the 41 birthday of Walter Gropius 1924 50La dama de malva by Lyonel FeiningerLa dama de malva 51Girl with green stockings by Lyonel FeiningerGirl with green stockings 52Werder I by Lyonel FeiningerWerder I 53Gelmeroda, VIII by Lyonel FeiningerGelmeroda, VIII 54Benz VI (1914) by Lyonel FeiningerBenz VI1914 55Bridge I (1913) by Lyonel FeiningerBridge I1913 56Gelmeroda IV (1915) by Lyonel FeiningerGelmeroda IV1915 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 57Zirchow II (1912) by Lyonel FeiningerZirchow II1912 58Schlossgasse (1915) by Lyonel FeiningerSchlossgasse1915 · Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art 59The Village Pond of Gelmeroda (1922) by Lyonel FeiningerThe Village Pond of Gelmeroda1922 · Städel Museum 60The Grützturm (1928) by Lyonel FeiningerThe Grützturm1928 61Victory of the Sloop "Maria" (1926) by Lyonel FeiningerVictory of the Sloop "Maria"1926 62Klarissenkirche, Ribnitz (1927) by Lyonel FeiningerKlarissenkirche, Ribnitz1927 63Yellow Village Church I (1927) by Lyonel FeiningerYellow Village Church I1927 64Village (1927) by Lyonel FeiningerVillage1927 · The Phillips Collection 65Gate Tower II (1925) by Lyonel FeiningerGate Tower II1925 · Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe 66Marienkirche with the Arrow (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerMarienkirche with the Arrow1930 67Lüneburg II (1929) by Lyonel FeiningerLüneburg II1929 68Sail Pyramid (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerSail Pyramid1930 69At the Flea Market (1929) by Lyonel FeiningerAt the Flea Market1929 70The Bölbergasse (1931) by Lyonel FeiningerThe Bölbergasse1931 71East Choir of the Dom in Halle (1931) by Lyonel FeiningerEast Choir of the Dom in Halle1931 72Marktkirche at Evening Hour (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerMarktkirche at Evening Hour1930 73St. Mary's Church I (1929) by Lyonel FeiningerSt. Mary's Church I1929 74Barns at Night (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerBarns at Night1930 · Israël Museum 75Market Church in Halle (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerMarket Church in Halle1930 · Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen 76Red Tower II (1930) by Lyonel FeiningerRed Tower II1930 77Mid-Ocean (1937) by Lyonel FeiningerMid-Ocean1937 78Spook I (1940) by Lyonel FeiningerSpook I1940 · The Phillips Collection 79Storm Brewing (1939) by Lyonel FeiningerStorm Brewing1939 80Courtyard III (1949) by Lyonel FeiningerCourtyard III1949 81Jesuits III (1915) by Lyonel FeiningerJesuits III1915 82Town (1910) by Lyonel FeiningerTown1910 83Nacht by Lyonel FeiningerNacht 84The Bridge by Lyonel FeiningerThe Bridge 85Untitled 4 by Lyonel FeiningerUntitled 4 86The Gate by Lyonel FeiningerThe Gate 87Varying Mystery Of Grey by Lyonel FeiningerVarying Mystery Of Grey 88Troistedt by Lyonel FeiningerTroistedt 89Village with Skier by Lyonel FeiningerVillage with Skier 90Cathedral by Lyonel FeiningerCathedral 91House by Lyonel FeiningerHouse 92Manhattan 1, stone 2 by Lyonel FeiningerManhattan 1, stone 2 93Expanding Horizon by Lyonel FeiningerExpanding Horizon 94Braunlage, Harz by Lyonel FeiningerBraunlage, Harz 95Houses in Old Paris by Lyonel FeiningerHouses in Old Paris 96Dorf Mellingen by Lyonel FeiningerDorf Mellingen 97Locomotive on the Bridge by Lyonel FeiningerLocomotive on the Bridge 98Manhattan 3, stone 2 by Lyonel FeiningerManhattan 3, stone 2 99Manhattan II by Lyonel FeiningerManhattan II 100Fishing Boats by Lyonel FeiningerFishing Boats

Principal subjects in the work of Lyonel Feininger

The four subjects most frequently represented among these works, each with its best-known example.

Lyonel Feininger: holding museums

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Lyonel Feininger Paintings from this list
Art Institute of Chicago, ChicagoArt Institute of Chicago Chicago 3 Carnival in Arcueil, Longeuil, Normandie
The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.The Phillips Collection Washington, D.C. 2 Village, Spook I
Museum Folkwang, EssenMuseum Folkwang Essen 1 Gelmeroda IX
Neue Galerie New York, New YorkNeue Galerie New York New York 1 Gelmeroda II
Walker Art Center, MinneapolisWalker Art Center Minneapolis 1 Church of the Minorites II
National Gallery of Canada, OttawaNational Gallery of Canada Ottawa 1 Yachts
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New YorkSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York 1 Gelmeroda IV
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, BentonvilleCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art Bentonville 1 Schlossgasse

Decade index: the principal Lyonel Feininger painting of each

Works per decade

Select a decade to display its principal painting.

Questions frequently consulted on Lyonel Feininger's paintings

What is the best-known work of Lyonel Feininger?Display the answer

The honeymooners. The following entries are Boats (1917) and Sailing Boats.

What are the ten best-known works by Lyonel Feininger?Display the answer

The honeymooners, Boats, Sailing Boats, Blue Coast, Gelmeroda XI, Gelmeroda IX, Carnival, The Green Bridge, Zeitungsleser (Newspaper Readers II) and On the Bridge (Ober-Weimar). The list above records the date and holding museum of each.

How many works by Lyonel Feininger does the catalogue record?Display the answer

The catalogue records 188 works by Lyonel Feininger, dated between 1909 and 1950.

Where are the principal works of Lyonel Feininger held?Display the answer

Principally in Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago), The Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.) and Museum Folkwang (Essen). The museum table above gives the full distribution.

During which period did Lyonel Feininger produce the best-known works?Display the answer

In 1910s: 13 of the 100 works listed on this page are dated to that period, including Boats.

What are the earliest and latest best-known works by Lyonel Feininger?Display the answer

The earliest dated work listed here is The Green Bridge (1909); the latest is Yachts (1950).

What subjects did Lyonel Feininger treat most often?Display the answer

Boats (6), Buildings (4) and Geometric forms (4), out of the 100 works listed on this page.

What medium did Lyonel Feininger employ most often?Display the answer

Oil On Canvas, in 5 of the 100 works listed on this page.

To which art movement is Lyonel Feininger attributed?Display the answer

Expressionism and Cubism, as documented by the works on this page.

Which paintings by Lyonel Feininger does the Art Institute of Chicago hold?Display the answer

Carnival in Arcueil and Longeuil, Normandie are among the 2 works on this page in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.

Can reproductions of Lyonel Feininger's works be ordered?Display the answer

Yes. Each work listed on this page can be ordered from its own entry as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in a size of your choice.

Biography of Lyonel Feininger

Het vroege leven en de carrière: Van karikaturist naar beeldend kunstenaar

  • Geboorte en familie: Lyonel Charles Adrian Feininger werd geboren op 17 juli 1871 in New York City. Zijn vader, Karl Feındadır, was een Duits-Amerikaanse violist en componist, en zijn moeder, Elizabeth Feininger, was een Amerikaanse zangeres. Deze artistieke achtergrond had een diepgaande invloed op zijn vroege ontwikkeling.
  • Vroege educatie en Europese reizen: In 1887, op de leeftijd van 16 jaar, reisde Feininger naar Europa om muziek te studeren, maar hij verschoof zijn focus al snel naar de kunst. Hij bestudeerde tekenkunst in Hamburg en Berlijn.
  • Carrière in de toegepaste kunst: Vanaf 1894 bouwde Feininger een succesvolle carrière op als karikaturist voor diverse Duitse, Franse en Amerikaanse tijdschriften. Zijn stripverhalen, zoals "The Kin-der-Kids" en "Wee Willie Winkie's World", verworven grote populariteit en toonden zijn unieke grafische stijl aan.
  • De overgang naar de vrije kunst: Na een periode van 20 jaar in de commerciële kunst, maakte Feininger op 36-jarige leeftijd de overstap naar de beeldende kunst. Dit markeerde een cruciaal keerpunt in zijn artistieke reis.

Expressionisme en de invloed van het Bauhaus

  • Aansluiting bij expressionistische groepen: Feininger werd een vooraanstaand exponent van het expressionisme door zich aan te sluiten bij invloedrijke groepen zoals Die Brücke, Novembergruppe en Gruppe 1919. Zijn werk uit deze periode weerspiegelde de nadruk van de beweging op emotionele expressie en subjectieve ervaring.
  • Eerste solotentoonstelling: Zijn eerste solotentoonstelling in de Sturm Gallery in Berlijn (1917) was een beslissend moment dat hem vestigde als een prominente figuur in de kunstwereld.
  • Meester van het Bauhaus: In 1919 benoemde Walter Gropius Feininger tot het eerste lid van de faculteit aan het Bauhaus, een baanbrekende school voor kunst en design. Hij diende als meester-kunstenaar in de grafische werkplaats, waarmee hij talloze studenten diepgaand beïnvloedde.
  • Artistieke stijl: Zijn werk werd gekenmerkt door prismatisch gebroken vormen, translucente kleuren en verwijzingen naar architectuur en de zee, wat hem plaatste binnen het klassiek modernisme.

Belangrijke werken en artistieke ontwikkeling

  • Vroege maritieme schilderijen: Tijdens zomervakanties op het eiland Usedom (1909-1918) creëerde Feininger talrijke maritieme schilderijen van de Oostzee, die zijn evoluerende stijl tentoonstelden.
  • Opmerkelijke werken: Enkele van zijn meest significante werken zijn "Werder I" (aquarel), "Gaberndorf II" (papier) en "Boats" (kubisme, olieverf op doek). Deze stukken belichamen zijn unieke versmelting van expressionistische technieken en architecturale thema's.
  • Fotografisch werk: Tussen 1928 en het midden van de jaren 50 produceerde Feininger een aanzienlijk oeuvre aan fotografische werken, wat zijn veelzijdigheid als kunstenaar bewees.
  • Muzikale composities: Hij componeerde ook verschillende pianostukken en fuga's voor orgel, wat een andere facet van zijn artistieke talent onthulde.

De latere jaren en de nalatenschap

  • Emigratie naar de Verenigde Staten: Door de opkomst van de NSDAP in 1933 emigreerde Feinger samen met zijn vrouw naar de Verenigde Staten.
  • Voortdurende artistieke praktijk: Hij bleef gedurende zijn hele leven schilderen en kunst creëren, waarbij hij een zeer eigenzinnige stijl behield.
  • Overlijden en erkenning: Lyonel Feininger overleed op 13 januari 1956. Zijn werk heeft een onuitwisbare indruk achtergelaten op de kunstwereld en inspireert zowel kunstenaars als liefhebbers met zijn unieke combinatie van expressionisme, grafische experimenten en architecturale thema's.
  • Historisch belang: Als sleutelfiguur in zowel het expressionisme als de Bauhaus-beweging hebben de bijdragen van Feinger het verloop van de moderne kunst aanzienlijk gevormd. Zijn innovatieve gebruik van kleur, vorm en perspectief blijft tot op de dag van vandaag resoneren bij een breed publiek.

All 188 works by Lyonel Feininger →