"Four Girls," August Macke, 1912-3.
German painter Macke (1887-1914) experimented with many styles over his career, including Impressionism, Fauvism, Orphism, and others, creating his own version of Expressionism late in his life.
He was a significant member of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue RIder), a collective of Expressionist artists in prewar Germany that encouraged their members' work and organized exhibitions that toured Germany and neighboring countries.
Painted during his time in Bonn, this work shows his Expressionist style at its best. His version wasn't as much overwrought and dramatic, and dark, as Expressionism often could be; here he's giving us bright colors, but an enigmatic situation. The girls all have downcast eyes; are they all sad? Or are they looking at something on the ground?
Macke had a ton of promise, but his career was cut short. Serving in the German Army in WWI, he was killed in France in 1914.
From the Museum Kunstpalast, Dusseldorf.







