Lovis Corinth

Lovis Corinth was born on 21 July 1858 in Tapiau in East Prussia. His father was a farmer and later a councilman in Tapiau. Lovis spent his childhood in agriculture, in stables, and near the wage pits of his father's tannery. Already at that time he made silhouettes as well as pencil and pen drawings.

In 1876 Corinth finally began his studies at the academy of arts in Königsberg. At the turn of the century he mainly painted pictures with literary and historical content, "Salome with the Head of John" (1899) and the "Crucifixion of Christ" (1909). From 1904 Corinth's nude studies also increased. However, he rarely had professional models, but asked his friends, his wife or close relatives to sit for him. His will to grasp the body, the blood and the flesh is evident in his 14 slaughterhouse scenes, in which his great model Rembrandt becomes recognizable, as well as in his nude paintings such as "Girlfriends" and "Lying Female Nude". In general, Corinth's style does not show a strictly chronological development.

The painting "Am Putztisch" is one of his most famous works. Corinth was not only occupied with painting, he was also active in the field of writing: in 1920 his collected writings appeared, his self-biography followed one year after his death. In June Lovis Corinth travelled to Amsterdam and died on 17 July during his stay in Zandvoort in the Netherlands.