* January 3, 1887 - † 1914

biography

August Macke was born on January 3, 1887 in Meschede Westphalia. He grew up in Bonn and Cologne. At the age of 17 he attended the academy in Düsseldorf, then the arts and crafts school. Louise Dumont, the theater director at the time, recognized the talent and commissioned August Macke to design costumes and sets. In 1905 and 1906 he traveled to Italy, Holland, Belgium and London. In 1907 he went to Paris and was able to admire Matisse's paintings. n this year he tried to "compose colors on the palette without thinking about a real object." 1907 - 1908 he attended Lovis Corinth's painting school in Berlin. In 1909 he married Elisabeth Gerhardt and moved to Tegernsee with his wife. August Macke saw a picture by Franz Marc in an art shop in Munich and then sought out the unknown artist - a friendship developed. In 1910, August Macke also met Wassily Kandinsky and Alexej Jawlensky and Gabriele Münter. In 1911, the "New Artists' Association" rejected some of its founder Kandinsky's paintings. The “Blue Rider” was then created, named after a picture by Kandinsky. August Macke took part in the publication of an almanac of the same name and in the first exhibition in 1911. In 1912, August Macke went to Paris with Franz Marc to visit Robert Delaunay. Delaunay worked on the effects of non-objective painting. An art that represents nothing, but is capable of producing effects like music. A close friendship also developed with Delaunay. The pictures “Coloured Forms II and III” show works by August Macke that are related to musical sounds. They also show the then 26-year-old's mastery of composing harmonious color sounds. Delauny then visited August Macke together with the poet Apollinaire in Bonn. In 1913, August Macke and his family moved to Hilterfingen on Lake Thun. Here in Switzerland he met Paul Klee. The eight months in Switzerland were probably August Macke's most productive phase. The suggestions of the artists he got to know flowed into his work and show the secure possession of the artistic means. In April 1914, Macke took a trip to Tunis with Klee and Moilliet, which went down in the history of painting. Wonderful watercolors were created by August Macke and Paul Klee, who found color here. In July 1914 Macke painted the picture "The Farewell" - it remained unfinished; The picture is in the Wallraf - Richartz - Museum in Cologne. On September 26, 1914, he died as a soldier in the First World War at the age of 27 near Perthes - les - Hurlus in Champagne.

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Macke, August - Four Girls - Collection of European Masters