LYONEL FEININGER American/German, 1871-1956

Lyonel Feininger (1871 in New York – 1956 in New York) is a major figure of classical modernism and was closely associated with the Bauhaus. After early years working as a caricaturist in the United States, he developed a distinctive painterly style in Germany between Cubism and constructive abstraction. Feininger’s work is characterized by architectural compositions, crystalline forms, and a luminous, lyrical atmosphere. His depictions of cities, churches, and coastal landscapes translate reality into highly structured, rhythmic compositions of remarkable sensitivity. His works are held in major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Galleryin London, the Centre Pompidou, and the Neue Nationalgalerie.