Collection: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 - 1938) was a founding member of Die Brucke, a group of German artists who railed against old, established artistic powers and sought a new freedom in their work. In 1910 the group left Leipzig for Berlin, and here Kirchner was confronted with the frenetic pace of city life. He found this both invigorating and overwhelming. As an army volunteer in World War I, Kirchner suffered a nervous breakdown. Though supported by numerous collectors and patrons, he became agitated and distraught by Nazi activity in World War II, and more and more dependent on sleeping pills, pain medication, and alcohol. He committed suicide in 1938.