Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

This volume functions as a definitive retrospective and catalogue raisonné documenting the life and work of the German Expressionist painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Published in 1952 by the esteemed auction house and publishing firm Kornfeld und Klipstein, the book serves as a vital scholarly resource, chronicling Kirchner’s foundational role in the Die Brücke group and his subsequent stylistic evolution. It was compiled at a time when the post-war art world was actively re-evaluating the importance of the Expressionist movement, which had been previously suppressed or disparaged.

The design of the work reflects the rigorous academic standards of E. W. Kornfeld, a central figure in the cataloging of 20th-century prints and works on paper. By presenting a systematic collection of Kirchner's imagery, the publication sought to provide clarity to a body of work that was often misunderstood or dispersed across private collections. It was received by critics and historians as an essential reference tool, instrumental in solidifying Kirchner's legacy as a pioneer of modernism and ensuring his graphic works remained accessible to researchers and institutions.