Henriette Grimm and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Last week I found this book in an antiquarian bookshop: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner 

"Meisterwerke der Druckgraphik" 

"Nirgends lernt man einen Künstler besser kennen als in sein Druckgraphik"

(Ernst Ludwig Kirchner) 

Kirchner (1880-1938) was busy, pioneering with (color) woodblock printmaking in Dresden as early as 1904 when he was captain of "Die Brücke" (active 1904-1913) expressionist artist group. He absorbed influences techniques and examples by many artists like Felix Valloton, at first almost copying styles and subjects.   

Also more traditional subjects by first generation German printmakers had his interest: Heine Rath, Siegfried Berndt and Emil Orlik no doubt.  

And then in those early years of his stormy and tumultuous career one can see his own interests, his feelings and emotions developing into his printmaking. 

Browsing through the book, 340 pages of joy, meeting, enjoying and revisiting many known, lesser and unknown prints by Kirchner there was this déjà-vu encounter.

I have no idea why Kirchners expressive 1904(!) "Burg bei Chemnitz" and Henriette's not dated Italian "San Fruttuoso" print share so many similarities, in composition, execution and in color. Kirchner lived near Dresden, visited and later lived in Switzerland, Henriette was born in Switzerland and later lived near Dresden. But something tells me there's a connection. Somewhere.

Henriette Grimm is mentioned in correspondence in the estate of well known Swiss childrens and fairy-tale book illustrator and graphic artist Ernst Kreidolf (1863-1956). In 1933 a dissapointing exhibition was held in Bern (Sw.) showing the works by Kirchner. Only 1100 visitors attended while in the before exposition 13.000 people visited Ernst Kreidolf’s exposition. Kreidolf was acquainted with both Kirchner and Henriette Grimm.  

Again a great Thank You for reader Hannelore who discovered the location of Henriette's print and pointed me to possible link between Ernst Kreidolf, Kirchner and Henriette Grimm. 
   

All pictures borrowed freely from the Internet for friendly, educational and non commercial use only.