Erich Heckel

* 1883, Döbeln 1970, Radolfzell

Biography

* 1883, Döbeln, 1970, Radolfzell

After initially studying architecture in Dresden, Erich Heckel taught himself painting. In June 1905, together with Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Fritz Bleyl, he formed the artist group “Bridge” in Dresden. Schmidt-Rottluff and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner had a joint studio and a close working relationship. In 1911 he moved to Berlin, which at that time was the contemporary centre of art. In 1913, the “Brücke” group was dissolved. In the same year, he had his first solo-exhibition in Berlin at Fritz Gurlitt. At the end of the war he became a founding member of the “Workers” Council for Art‘. Later, he was also a member of the Acquisitions Commission of the Berlin National Gallery. In 1937 he was banned from public exhibition of his work. His art was branded “degenerate” and was removed from German museums. In 1939 some of his works were burnt in Berlin. Between 1952 and1969 he was a committee member of the German Artists‘ Association. To mark both his 70th and 80th birthdays, a number of large retrospective shows were organized.

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