Karl Schmidt-Rottluff

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884-1976), German Expressionist painter and graphic artist. Originally named Karl Schmidt, he was born near Chemnitz. In 1905 Schmidt-Rottluff was a founding member of Die Brücke, a group of German Expressionist painters, but he exceeded other members of the group in the boldness of his abstractions and the dissonance of his colour. After 1910 Schmidt-Rottluff's style became more moderate. His woodcuts, influenced by primitive art, are of exceptional quality. They often depict biblical scenes, dramatic black-and-white compositions creating a strong mystical or religious feeling.