Pionierinnen der Moderne

Outstanding artists such as Käthe Kollwitz, Paula Modersohn-Becker, Gabriele Münter, and Marianne Werefkin significantly shaped the development of Expressionism in Germany during the early decades of the 20th century. In a time of great societal change, these women challenged the prevailing ideals of female identity. They were expected to marry and start families. Some chose to do so, while others did not. However, the ambitious artists wanted to work and undermined conventions with their art. Their portraits of children symbolize joy, hope, and innocence, but also melancholy, tension, transience, and unfulfilled desires. Their radical depictions of the female body remove it from the male gaze and find a new role in expressing powerful motherhood and female subjectivity. These dramatic modern compositions, with their tumultuous brushstrokes and colors, push the boundaries of form, color, and spiritual significance.