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August Macke

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August Macke was a prominent German Expressionist painter. He was a leading member of the influential group known as Der Blaue Reiter, or "The Blue Rider." Macke lived during a highly active era for German art. He witnessed the rise of major Expressionist movements. He also saw new avant-garde movements arrive from across Europe. His work is characterized by a focus on feelings and moods. Instead of reproducing objective reality, he used color and form to express internal states.

August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on canvas, 89 x 89 cm, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway
August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on canvas, 89 x 89 cm, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway

To create his unique style, Macke integrated several different artistic influences. He began by studying French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. He also explored Fauvism, a style known for bold colors. A major turning point occurred in 1912 during a meeting with Robert Delaunay in Paris. Delaunay practiced chromatic Cubism, which was sometimes called Orphism. This meeting acted as a revelation for Macke. He began to combine Delaunay's ideas with the simultaneity of images found in Italian Futurism. His painting "Shops Windows" is a personal interpretation of these complex styles.

Macke - Seiltänzerin (1913)
Macke - Seiltänzerin (1913)

Macke's artistic process often involved travel and observation of new environments. He spent much of his creative life in Bonn. However, he traveled frequently to Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Britain. In April 1914, he traveled to Tunisia with Paul Klee and Louis Moilliet. This trip was fundamental to his final period of work. The exotic atmosphere of Tunisia helped him develop a luminist approach. This approach focused on the qualities of light. His famous painting "Türkisches Café" is a masterpiece from this specific time.

August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325 - Lenbachhaus
August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325 - Lenbachhaus

August Macke was born on January 3, 1887, in Meschede, Westphalia. His father, August Friedrich Hermann Macke, was a building contractor and an amateur artist. His mother, Maria Florentine, came from a farming family. Early influences on Macke included his father's drawings and Japanese prints. He also admired the works of Arnold Böcklin. In 1904, Macke enrolled at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. He studied under Adolf Maennchen and later took evening classes with Fritz Helmut Ehmke. He even worked as a stage and costume designer at the Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf.

Straße mit Kirche in Kandern
Straße mit Kirche in Kandern

Despite his short career, Macke's paintings are highly valued today. His works appear frequently in the international art market. In 1997, "The Couple at a Garden Table" sold for £2 million at Christie's. The painting "Market in Tunis" sold for $4.1 million in 2000. In 2011, "In the Bazar" reached a price of £3.96 million at auction. Another work, "Woman with a Parrot in a Landscape," sold for €2.4 million in 2007. This painting has a complex history. It was confiscated in 1937 as "degenerate" art. Its history also mentions Hildebrand Gurlitt, who was Hitler's art dealer.

August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on canvas, 89 x 89 cm, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway
August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on canvas, 89 x 89 cm, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway

We continue to honor Macke's legacy through specific institutions and awards. The August-Macke-Haus is a museum dedicated to his life. It is located in his former home in Bonn, where he lived from 1911 to 1914. Additionally, the August Macke Prize was established to recognize artistic achievement. This prize was first awarded in 1959. It was given by the German districts of Arnsberg, Brilon, Olpe, and Meschede. These locations connect the prize back to his birthplace.

August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325 - Lenbachhaus
August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325 - Lenbachhaus

Macke's life ended during the First World War. He served at the front in Champagne, France. He died on September 26, 1914, during the second month of the war. He is buried in the German Military Cemetery in Souain-Perthes-lès-Hurlus. His final painting was titled "Farewell." This work depicts the gloom that followed the outbreak of the war. His death was shared by other young artists, such as his friend Franz Marc. His life remains a vital part of the history of German Expressionism.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Straße mit Kirche in Kandern.jpg
Straße mit Kirche in Kandern.jpg
File:August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on canvas, 89 x 89 cm, National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Norway.jpg
August Macke, 1912, Rokoko, oil on...
File:Macke - Seiltänzerin (1913).jpg
Macke - Seiltänzerin (1913).jpg
File:August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325 - Lenbachhaus.jpg
August Macke - Türkisches Café - G 13325...
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