When Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff formed the artist group Die Brücke in Dresden in 1905, they did not agree on a common artistic style, but rather on a youthful impetus of rebellion against society and academic traditions.

It is astonishing that in 1906, the artist group enlisted Emil Nolde – who, at the age of 39, belonged to a different generation – as the first member, before Hermann Max Pechstein. It was primarily his »color towers« that inspired them as well as his instinctive, limitless creativity. By far the oldest member, Nolde soon took on a mentoring role within the group and, with the idea of passive membership, also ensured a solid economic foundation for the group. Despite all the artistic cross-fertilization, there were increasing disagreements, and by 1907, Nolde had left Die Brücke to pursue his own path and become one of the greatest painters of the 20th century.

Artist: Emil Nolde
Editor: Ute Eggeling, Michael Beck
Text: Eva Dewes
Design: Beck & Eggeling (Martina Löhle)

English, German
Hardcover, 21 x 17 cm

Available works of the artist

Emil Nolde, Drei Sonnenblumen, c. 1930, © Nolde Stiftung Seebüll

Emil Nolde, Phantasie (Drei Köpfe), 1931 – 1935, © Nolde Stiftung Seebüll

Emil Nolde, Kindergruppe, 1908, © Nolde Stiftung Seebüll

Emil Nolde, Junge Mädchen (Ada Nolde und Lis Vilstrup); (Young Girls (Ada Nolde and Lis Vilstrup)), 1907, © Linda Inconi-Jansen