At the exhibition “Lovis Corinth. Lust for Life” within the framework of the Hermitage Days 2021 project, for the first time, a painting from the collection of the Russian Art Center participated. This is the work of Lovis Corinth "Self-portrait in armor" (1911).

Corinth justified his initial motivation to become an artist with the desire to paint historical paintings, in which the costumes made a special impression on him. That is why knightly armor for the master is much more than just props. Rather, it is part of the national history, the self-affirmation of the German art school and separatism from French art.

In his self-portrait, the painter in a helmet and armor is depicted up to his chest. The battle has just ended: the visor of the helmet is raised, burning eyes shine, and the warrior himself is exhausted, but not defeated. The artist demonstrates his privileged position by turning his head and posture. He does not carry any weapons, the knight's sword or spear is missing, instead of them behind the flag. Corinth, as it were, "demonstrates his personal triumph by portraying himself and acknowledging an unlimited leadership role."

The period of creation of the picture is one of the most fruitful for the master. He actively lectures, his works are shown at exhibitions in Berlin, Leipzig, Düsseldorf. A year earlier, the painter donated his triptych "Golgotha" to his native city of Tapiau (now Gvardeysk) and plans to perform in Königsberg. In addition, at the beginning of 1911, he was elected chairman of the Berlin Secession. This event is a kind of victory in the endless intrigues that were raging in artistic circles at that time.

GALLERY

Days of the Hermitage in Kaliningrad

On 28 October the Hermitage Days will open at the Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts. For the third year in a row, residents and guests of the region get acquainted with the treasures of the largest Russian museum - the State Hermitage.

The Hermitage Days project is held annually at the leading art venues in many Russian cities. Kaliningrad joined in 2019 with the debut exhibition “Alexander I and Napoleon. Meeting on the Neman. The project was dedicated to the Treaty of Tilsit, which took place in the summer of 1807 on the Neman River. The temporary exhibition presented 60 works from the collection of the State Hermitage, as well as items from private collections and the Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts.

In 2020, the Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts and the Hermitage covered several topics at once. The central project was "Museums-exchanges", which presented the architectural features of the exchange buildings - St. Petersburg, Riga, Koenigsberg, Rybinsk, Saratov. A separate topic was the court culture of Russia in the 18th - early 20th centuries, as magnificent balls were held in the buildings of the stock exchanges.

In 2021, the Hermitage Days will unite three museums at once — the State Hermitage Museum, the Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts and the Russian Art Center. Cultural institutions will present the exhibition “Lovis Corinth. Lust for Life” with works by the author from his collections. In addition to the exhibition itself, residents and guests of the city will be able to participate in thematic workshops, museum classes, walking tours, lectures and the exhibition of books “Gifts of the Hermitage”.

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The Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts hosts the exhibition “Lovis Corinth. Lust for Life”, presented as part of the Hermitage Days in Kaliningrad program. Next »

ArtMoskovia, 28.11.2021

The Hermitage Days at the Kaliningrad Museum of Fine Arts open with a large-scale exhibition Lovis Corinth. Thirst for life." The unique paintings of the exposition, telling about the multifaceted creative life of the famous German artist, were brought to the westernmost region of Russia from the northern capital. Next »

GTRK Kaliningrad, 11.11.2021