Macke

August Macke (1887–1914) was a German expressionist painter who contributed to the development of German Expressionism and the Blaue Reiter school. In 1911 he joined Der Blaue Reiter, a group of artists led by Kandinsky and Franz Marc, dedicated to exploring color and spiritual expression through art. A prolific traveler, he produced landscapes, portraits, and scenes of contemporary life. In 1914 he joined Paul Klee and Louis Moilliet on a trip to Tunisia, which broadened his use of color and form. His career was cut short when he was killed in World War I later that year, at the age of 27.

Style and influence: His painting is characterized by bright, flat planes of color, simplified forms, and careful composition, often capturing the effects of light and rhythm in everyday subjects. The works reflect Fauvist and Cubist influences and helped bridge expressionism with later modernist trends.

Legacy: Macke's work influenced younger German artists and formed a vital part of early 20th-century modernism. Major public collections hold his paintings, including the Lenbachhaus in Munich and the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern; his paintings are featured in many major museums worldwide.