Nestled in the tranquil outskirts of Chemnitz, Germany, a new museum celebrates the life and work of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884-1976), a pivotal figure in German Expressionism. The museum, located near picturesque stables, honors one of the region’s most renowned natives, an Expressionist artist who significantly shaped 20th century art. Schmidt-Rottluff wasn’t just an artist; he was a founding member of “Die Brücke” (The Bridge), a group that revolutionized German art.
Formed in Dresden in 1905 within a humble cobbler’s workshop, “Die Brücke” comprised four young artists eager to disrupt the conventional world. This marked a turning point in the landscape of German art. Interestingly, the genesis of this influential movement can be traced back to Chemnitz, a town near Dresden. It was here that Schmidt-Rottluff, along with Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Erich Heckel, first began their artistic journeys; Schmidt-Rottluff and Heckel fostered their friendship in a local art studio as early as 1902. The group later expanded, welcoming artists like Kuno Amiet, Otto Müller, Emil Nolde, and Max Pechstein. This embrace of new members added different influences, but always within the bounds of Modern art.
Karl Schmidt’s formative years were spent in a mill overseen by his father. To distinguish himself from others with the same name, the young artist adopted “Rottluff” in 1905, referencing the village where his childhood unfolded near Chemnitz. His parents later constructed a home nearby in 1913, the same year “Die Brücke” dissolved. Despite relocating to Berlin, Schmidt-Rottluff frequently returned to his hometown. In 1943, wartime circumstances forced him and his wife, Emi, to seek refuge in his parents’ house for three years after their Berlin apartment was destroyed.
Chemnitz, now home to the second-largest collection of Schmidt-Rottluff’s creations after the Brücke Museum in Berlin, acquired the family mansion in 2023 and opened it to the public this spring. The museum’s exhibition spans Schmidt-Rottluff’s artistic evolution, showcasing both his early explorations and later masterpieces, alongside pieces by his fellow “Die Brücke” artists, further illustrating the collective’s impact on Modern art.
Many of the early works on display have rarely been seen, as Schmidt-Rottluff himself considered them “student exercises,” according to curator Sabine Maria Schmidt. A landscape from 1902, rendered in muted watercolor tones, exemplifies this early style. This contrasts sharply with the vibrant hues and bold compositions that characterize his later German Expressionism.
Following World War I, Schmidt-Rottluff rose to prominence as one of Germany’s leading artists. However, the rise of Nazism led to the suppression of his art, along with that of other former “Die Brücke” members. Over 600 of his works were removed from museums, and several were featured in the infamous “Degenerate Art” exhibition of 1937. Forbidden from painting, he turned to watercolors and graphics, though he secretly created a self-portrait in 1944, which is now proudly displayed in the new museum.
After World War II, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff reclaimed his artistic standing and continued to create for three decades until his death at 91. A poignant homecoming occurred in Chemnitz in 1946, when his first post-war exhibition showcased 50 wartime watercolors at the Schlossberg Museum. He subsequently became a professor at the Berlin University of Fine Arts, and in 1955, five of his paintings were included in the inaugural Documenta exhibition in Kassel, signaling Germany’s break from its Nazi past. He also played a key role in founding the Brücke Museum in West Berlin in 1967, consistently adding to its collection.
Beyond the new museum, additional works by “Die Brücke” artists are on display at the Chemnitz Art Collections, including a remarkable 1926 painting by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Kirchner’s depiction of Chemnitz, with its industrial landscape dominating the skyline, serves as a reminder of the city’s past, all while demonstrating the innovative spirit of Modern art.
