Christian Rohlfs

Christian Rohlfs (* December 22, 1849 in Niendorf, Segeberg County; † January 8, 1938 in Hagen) was a German painter and pioneer of modernism. His work reflects several important contemporary currents, including classical academy painting, later Impressionism and finally Expressionism.

Christian Rohlf's education and early work

Christian Rohlfs was born in Niendorf on December 22, 1849. At the age of fifteen, Rohlfs falls from a tree and injures his leg, resulting in two years of bedriddenness. His attending physician provides him with painting utensils to combat the emerging boredom and quickly recognizes the boy's potential. On Theodor Storm's recommendation, Rohlfs visits the painter and writer Ludwig Pietsch in Berlin in 1869. In 1870 he began studying art at the Grand Ducal Academy in Weimar. He has to interrupt this in 1873 due to the amputation of his right leg. At the academy he receives a freelance position with Paul Thomann and creates mainly naturalistic works. 1876 begins his apprenticeship with Alexander Struys.

After completing his studies, Christian Rohlfs was declared an independent artist on June 15, 1884. As a freelance artist, he increasingly turns to Impressionism from 1880. His works are exhibited at the Academy of Arts in Berlin in 1890.

Christian Rohlfs and Karl Ernst Osthaus

Through the mediation of the architect Henry van de Velde, contact is made with Karl Ernst Osthaus, who is busy founding the Folkwang Museum in Hagen. At Osthaus's request, Rohlfs moves to Hagen a year later. In 1903, in the newly opened Folkwang Museum, the artist sees works by contemporary French painters for the first time. In the same year he creates his first watercolors.

Rohlfs became acquainted with Dr. Kaesbach, an important patron of Expressionism, in 1904. In the same year the artist travels to Soest for a working stay. The medieval churches and buildings of Soest can still be found in ...

1849 - Born on December 22 in Niendorf b. Leezen Kreis Segeberg
1864 - Fall from a tree, sickbed for two years. The attending physician Dr. Stolle, brother-in-law of Theodor Storm, procures painting utensils.
1869 - Rohlfs visits Ludwig Pietsch in Berlin with a recommendation from Theodor Storm.
1870 - Studies at the Grand Ducal Academy in Weimar
1873 - Amputation of the right leg.
1875 - Study visits to Weißenfels and Dresden.
1876 - Apprenticeship with Alexander Struys.
1884 - Rohlfs is declared an independent artist on June 15. He keeps his independent studio.
1888 - First signs of impressionist loosening of painting style.
1890 - Exhibition at the Academy of Arts, Berlin.
1900 - Through the mediation of Henry van de Velde, first contact with Karl Ernst Osthaus in Hagen, who is busy with preparations for the founding of the Folkwang Museum.
1901 - Moves to Hagen to the Folkwang Museum that is being built.
1902 - At the instigation of Hans Oldes, awarded the title of professor retrospectively on December 25.
1903 - First watercolors
1904 - Acquaintance with Dr. Kaesbach and Edvard Munch. Abandonment of the independent studio in Weimar. First visit to Soest.
1905 - Friendship with Emil Nolde.
1907 - Member of the "Sonderbund westdeutscher Kunstfreunde und Künstler," led by Karl Ernst Osthaus." First exhibition of the "Brücke" at the Folkwang Museum in Hagen.
1908 - First woodcuts.
1909 - Exhibition at the Folkwang Museum. Participation in the Sonderbund exhibition in Düsseldorf and in the black-and-white exhibition of the "Berlin Secession."
1910 - Participates in the Sonderbund exhibition in Düsseldorf.
1911 - Member of the "Neue Secession", Berlin.
1914 - Unable to work for several months due to the shock of the outbreak of war. Full member of the "Freie Secession", Berlin.
1919 - Marries Helene Vogt. Special exhibition for 70th birthday; Nationalgalerie, Berlin; Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover; Galerie A. Flechtheim, Düsseldorf.
1920 - Special exhibition at Paul Cassirer, Berlin.
1922 - Awarded the title of Dr.-Ing. e. h. by the Technical University of Aachen.
1924 - Honorary citizen of the city of Hagen. Member of the Prussian Academy of Arts, Berlin.
1925 - Awarded the degree of Dr. phil. h. c. by the University of Kiel. Extraordinary member of the State Academy of Arts, Düsseldorf.
1928 - First trip to Ascona on Lake Maggiore.
1937 - Rohlfs is considered "degenerate". Exhibition ban. Expulsion from the Prussian Academy of Arts, Berlin. 412 of his works are confiscated from museum holdings. Last exhibition at the Galerie F. Möller, Cologne.
1938 - On January 8 he dies in Hagen. Ban on sale. Memorial exhibitions in Basel, Bern and Zurich.