"Partridges in Snow," Józef Chełmoński, 1891.

Chełmoński (1849-1914) was a Polish painter known for his realistic landscapes and romanticized scenes of life in Poland.

Born when there really was no Poland as a country; it was partitioned among Austria, Russia, and Prussia after being defeated in war. He lived his entire life without seeing his country unified, but we know from his writings and his work that he was one of many who loved his country and sought to see it reunified and again a sovereign nation, which didn't happen until a few years after his death.

Chełmoński's daughter said he loved to watch partridges near his home in the region of Mazovia, and this reflects his observations. They're almost photographic in detail. This is regarded as one of his greatest works, for the sheer quality and simplicity.

Under the reunified Poland, Chełmoński's work is regarded as a national treasure. Over 100 of his paintings are missing; possibly looted by the Nazis and are yet to be recovered.

From the National Museum in Warsaw.

#Art #JózefChełmoński #Realism #Romanticism #Birdies #LootedByTheThirdReich #PolishNationalism

"Tyrol," Franz Marc, 1914.

Marc (1880-1916) was a German Expressionist painter. Although a prominent figure in German Expressionism, his career was tragically short.

He was a founder of The Blue Rider, an arts journal that became the voice of a circle of artists of the time, including Kandinsky. The were Blue Rider exhibitions, where he showed his work and collected good reviews. However, at the outbreak of WWI, he was drafted by the German army and died during the Battle of Verdun.

The Third Reich declared his art "degenerate" and had it pulled from museums and sold to raise money. At least one painting was looted from the home of a Jewish man who was sent to the camps; it was restored to his family only a few years ago. Now Marc's work gets record prices at auctions.

From the Piankothek der Moderne, Munich. (I'm not focusing on that museum solely this week, I swear! I've chosen these randomly but they're all from the same museum...)

#Art #FranzMarc #Expressionism #DegenerateArt #LootedByTheThirdReich #BannedByTheThirdReich

"Samson and Delilah," Max Liebermann, 1902.

Liebermann (1847-1935) was a brilliant artist at a horrible time. He was a leading proponent of German Impressionism, was a leader of the Berlin Secession, an influential avant-garde art movement, but late in life, at the height of his artistic power, his work was dropped by major galleries because he was Jewish, and later all work by Jewish artists was banned.

He died of natural causes, but his paintings, as well as his personal collection, were looted by the Nazis. Liebermann's heirs are still struggling to reclaim his property.

This version of the story is interesting; Liebermann presents it as a modern battle of the sexes, without reference to any sort of Biblical setting.

From the Städel Museum, Frankfurt.

#Art #GermanArt #JewishArtists #BannedByTheThirdReich #LootedByTheThirdReich #MaxLiebermann