Großer Mohn (rot, rot, rot)
by Emil Nolde, © Nolde Stiftung Seebüll
The Artist
- Who? Emil Nolde (Hans Emil Hansen)
- Born: 7. August 1867 in Nolde, Kreis Tondern der Provinz Schleswig-Holstein († 13. April 1956 in Seebüll)
- Style: Expressionism
Emil Nolde was one of the leading Expressionist painters and known for his expressive choice of colors. Although his works were confiscated as "degenerate art" and Nolde was banned from working, he was a racist, anti-Semite and staunch supporter of National Socialism.
Nolde - actually Hans Emil Hansen - was born the fourth of five children of the farmer Niels Hansen and his wife Hanna Christine in the village of Nolde near Tønder, in the German-Danish borderland in what was then German territory.In 1884 - 1888, he completed an apprenticeship as a wood sculptor's assistant and draftsman, and continued his education in various arts and crafts and painting schools, as well as through self-study.
His repertoire includes watercolors, oil paintings, color lithographs and drawings with religious and folkloric motifs, flower and garden paintings, landscapes and city scenes.
On February 25, 1902 Nolde marries Ada (Adamine Frederikke) Vilstrup (* 20.09.1879) and in the course of the wedding he discards the name Hansen and names himself after his birthplace Nolde.
Literature of the artist
- Letters from the years 1894-1926; 1927
- The own life; 1931
- Years of struggle; 1934
- World and Homeland. The South Sea voyage 1913-1918; 1936
- Travel, Ostracism, Liberation 1919-1946; 1967
- My life; 1976
The Artwork
- Name: Großer Mohn (rot, rot, rot)
- Created around: 1942
- Technique: Oil on canvas
The oil painting "Large Poppy (red, red, red)" from 1942 is considered perhaps the most famous of all flower paintings by Emil Nolde. The titular Turkish poppy glows in three different shades of pink and red. The flower heads pile up from a strong vantage point in front of a blue strip of sky with clouds enthroned above. A wonderful reminder of the Seebüll garden.
