An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Dance Training1910-11 (altered 1920)
Artist: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
German, 1880–1938
Alterations made to the painting in the 1920's; composition exists on verso of a woman after her bath.
47 x 35 1/4 in. (119.38 x 89.54 cm) (canvas)
Oil on canvas
Painting
Germany
20th century
Gift of Mrs. Charles Meech
In the heart of early 20th-century Europe, a vibrant artistic revolution was taking root. Among its pioneers was Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a man whose brush danced with the fluidity of the human form, capturing not just flesh but spirit. Kirchner was captivated by the themes of sexual freedom, a longing to break free from the constraints of society, and it poured out onto his canvas in the form of countless nudes. Each figure he painted was alive with vitality, embodying the liberating ethos of the time—a celebration of the body and its naturalness.
In his studio, a space buzzing with creativity and camaraderie—known as The Bridge (Die Brücke)—Kirchner welcomed fellow artists. It was a sanctuary where unconventional ideas thrived amidst the laughter and chatter of passionate souls. Here, the dance atelier served as more than just a physical space; it became a symbol, a metaphor for the artistic journey he shared with his contemporaries. In these vibrant walls, nudity was not merely a nude; it represented an ethos, echoing the contemporary cults of nudity and athleticism that were sweeping through culture like a refreshing breeze.
When Kirchner combined nude figures with his studio's warmth and energy, he created a world brimming with spontaneous life and unrestrained bohemian sensuality. Every stroke of his brush resonated with the freedom sought by all the Brücke painters—each canvas an invitation to embrace the raw beauty of existence, unfiltered and true. In Kirchner’s art, the very essence of liberation sprung to life, a testament to a generation daring to defy convention and boldly explore the contours of human connection and expression.
About the artist
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