Lyonel Feininger was a German-American painter and printmaker renowned for his Expressionist works. He was born in New York City in 1871 to German parents who had emigrated from Germany. Feininger’s early life divided his time between the United States and Germany, where he studied music with his father and painting with a family friend. His artistic career began in 1895 when he worked as an illustrator at the German satirical magazine Ulk. He developed his style of Expressionism – geometric abstraction – during this period and soon achieved success with the publication of his comic strips in newspapers and magazines.
In 1906, Feininger moved to Berlin to become a full-time artist and quickly became involved in the Hamburg Secessionist movement. He was a founding member of the Berliner Sezession, participating in their iconic exhibitions from 1909 to 1914. During this period, he also taught painting at the Bauhaus school from 1919 onwards.
Feininger’s most famous works are characterized by their bold lines and bright colors, as well as their abstract forms that hint at recognizable objects. He was a prolific artist, producing oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, and photographs. His works have been exhibited in major European galleries and are included in numerous collections worldwide.
Feininger died in 1956 at 84, leaving behind a legacy that has had an enduring influence on modern art. His works have been highly sought after by collectors and art historians alike and continue to inspire many contemporary artists.
