the 1920s in his works.
During a stay in Soest in 1905 Rohlfs met Emil Nolde, with whom a close friendship quickly developed. From 1906 Rohlfs' works show an expressive painting style.
In 1909 his works are exhibited at the Folkwang Museum. In 1911 he became a member of the artists' group "Neue Secession" in Berlin and joined the "Freie Secession" in 1914.
Rohlfs married Helene Vogt in 1919. In the same year, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, special exhibitions were held at the National Gallery in Berlin, the Kestner Society in Hanover and the Flechtheim Gallery in Düsseldorf. The positive public response gives the artist new impetus. In 1920, a special exhibition follows at Paul Cassirer's art gallery in Berlin.
The city of Hagen makes Christian Rohlfs an honorary citizen in 1924. At the same time he becomes a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts. In 1925, the Düsseldorf Academy of Art appointed him an extraordinary member.
In 1927 the artist took his first trip to Ascona on Lake Maggiore, where he spent the last decade of his life. There he met, among others, Marianne von Werefkin. In 1929, the Christian-Rohlfs-Museum was founded in Hagen in honor of the 80-year-old (today Osthaus Museum Hagen).
In 1937 Rohlfs is declared "degenerate" by the National Socialists and all his works are removed from German museums. His last exhibition takes place at the Galerie F. Möller in Cologne.
On January 8, 1938 Christian Rohlfs dies in Hagen. In memory of him, various exhibitions are held in Switzerland.