Christian Rohlfs was a German painter and printmaker whose expressive style evolved through several major art movements, from Realism and Impressionism to Expressionism. Initially trained in academic realism,... View More

Christian Rohlfs was a German painter and printmaker whose expressive style evolved through several major art movements, from Realism and Impressionism to Expressionism. Initially trained in academic realism, he later embraced a bold, emotional approach to color and form, making him one of the pioneers of German Expressionism.

Rohlfs began painting relatively late in life due to health challenges but became increasingly experimental as he aged. Influenced by the work of Vincent van Gogh and the Die Brücke group, he turned to woodcuts and linocuts in his seventies, exploring powerful contrasts and simplified shapes.

Despite the rise of Nazism — during which his work was labeled "degenerate art" — Rohlfs’ influence on modern German art remained significant. His vibrant, deeply personal artworks reflect a lifelong search for intensity and spiritual depth through paint.