Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880–1938) was a prominent [[German Expressionist]] painter and a founding member of the [[Die Brücke]] (The Bridge) movement, formed in Dresden in 1905. [[Die Brücke]] aimed to break with traditional academic art and express raw, emotional responses to modern life. Kirchner’s work, with its bold colors, jagged forms, and often distorted human figures, embodied this desire for a direct and unfiltered artistic expression. Within Die Brücke, Kirchner worked closely with contemporaries like Erich Heckel, [[Karl Schmidt-Rottluff]], and [[Max Pechstein]]. Their shared goals included revitalizing German art and exploring new ways of seeing through vivid color, simplified forms, and an interest in primitive or non-Western art. Kirchner was heavily influenced by the art of Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch, whose use of intense emotion and distortion helped shape his approach to [[Expressionism]]. He was also affected by the works of Henri Matisse and the Fauves, whose use of bold, non-naturalistic colors paralleled some of Kirchner’s own stylistic explorations. Kirchner’s influence extended beyond Die Brücke. His cityscapes, especially of Berlin, captured the anxiety and alienation of modern urban life, making him a leading figure in German [[Expressionism]]. After Die Brücke dissolved in 1913, Kirchner’s work continued to evolve, marked by a nervous energy and psychological depth that influenced later artists, particularly those associated with Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) and modern German art. Later in life, Kirchner struggled with [[Mental Health]] issues, which intensified during and after World [[War]] I. Despite this, his work remained a critical influence on subsequent generations of Expressionist and avant-garde artists. `Concepts:` [[Art]] `Knowledge Base:`