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Prussian painter, draftsman and illustrator Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel (1815 - 1905) is considered the most important artist of realism. In addition, one could also recognize Impressionism in his paintings. This style inspired him during a trip to Paris. For example, he created the paintings "the Balcony Room" and "Forest Night". Ultimately, he developed his own style and painting technique, with which he was ahead of his time.
Menzel was often dubbed "the little excellence", because at 1.40 m. he was rather short and gnome-like. His artistic career began in 1839, when he was commissioned by the German historian Franz Theodor Kugler to create illustrations for a multi-volume history of Frederick the Great. Menzel demonstrated great diligence by creating 400 pen-and-ink drawings within three years. Through this work he became known to the general public and he received further commissions. In the beginning it was historical paintings that Menzel created. Later, he often dealt with the present in his paintings.
Menzel's life was rather boring and uneventful, as he lived in seclusion and without friends. Thus, he traveled frequently and sought to compensate for his loneliness with his paintings. Because of his size, he could never participate in battles, so he wanted to express his sense of duty. This is how he created one of his most famous paintings "Frederick and His Own in the Battle of Hochkirch" from the period between 1850 and 1856, which was exhibited both in the Academy of Arts and later in the Paris World's Fair and caused rather incomprehension among the public, since the inspiration of the painting depicts the defeat in the Battle of Hochkirch from 1758, in which the Prussians desperately try to repel the Austrian surprise attack. In the center and elevated to the troops is King Frederick II, who is trying to organize the counterattack. What is striking about the painting is that Menzel placed the anonymous soldiers in the foreground, which clearly set the painting apart from other battle paintings. In 1866, he traveled to the scenes of the wars. As a result, his paintings became more somber, depicting dying and dead soldiers. Eventually he turned away from battle paintings and painted construction sites or other localities of Berlin, the city where he lived and which was then becoming the capital of the German Empire. In 1895, he became an honorary citizen of Berlin on his 80th birthday. Menzel saw his death coming, which he wrote in a New Year's greeting to Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1905.
Prussian painter, draftsman and illustrator Adolph Friedrich Erdmann von Menzel (1815 - 1905) is considered the most important artist of realism. In addition, one could also recognize Impressionism in his paintings. This style inspired him during a trip to Paris. For example, he created the paintings "the Balcony Room" and "Forest Night". Ultimately, he developed his own style and painting technique, with which he was ahead of his time.
Menzel was often dubbed "the little excellence", because at 1.40 m. he was rather short and gnome-like. His artistic career began in 1839, when he was commissioned by the German historian Franz Theodor Kugler to create illustrations for a multi-volume history of Frederick the Great. Menzel demonstrated great diligence by creating 400 pen-and-ink drawings within three years. Through this work he became known to the general public and he received further commissions. In the beginning it was historical paintings that Menzel created. Later, he often dealt with the present in his paintings.
Menzel's life was rather boring and uneventful, as he lived in seclusion and without friends. Thus, he traveled frequently and sought to compensate for his loneliness with his paintings. Because of his size, he could never participate in battles, so he wanted to express his sense of duty. This is how he created one of his most famous paintings "Frederick and His Own in the Battle of Hochkirch" from the period between 1850 and 1856, which was exhibited both in the Academy of Arts and later in the Paris World's Fair and caused rather incomprehension among the public, since the inspiration of the painting depicts the defeat in the Battle of Hochkirch from 1758, in which the Prussians desperately try to repel the Austrian surprise attack. In the center and elevated to the troops is King Frederick II, who is trying to organize the counterattack. What is striking about the painting is that Menzel placed the anonymous soldiers in the foreground, which clearly set the painting apart from other battle paintings. In 1866, he traveled to the scenes of the wars. As a result, his paintings became more somber, depicting dying and dead soldiers. Eventually he turned away from battle paintings and painted construction sites or other localities of Berlin, the city where he lived and which was then becoming the capital of the German Empire. In 1895, he became an honorary citizen of Berlin on his 80th birthday. Menzel saw his death coming, which he wrote in a New Year's greeting to Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1905.