August Macke – Artwork & Bio of the German Painter

August Macke was a German painter born on 3 January 1887 in Meschede, Germany. Macke showed signs of artistic prowess as early as age five, partly influenced by his father, an amateur landscape painter. In 1904, Macke began studying at the Royal Academy of Art in Dusseldorf, abandoning the institution two years later. He started taking classes at the Dusseldorf School of Applied Arts while working as a stage and costume designer.

Macke traveled to Paris in 1907, encountering the works of Impressionist painters and adopting some of their styles. Subsequently, he made several European trips, experimenting and developing his artistic style. In 1910, Macke met Franz Marc in Munich and formed the Der Blaue Reiter group.

From 1911 to 114, Macke, Marc, and other expressionists held group shows to showcase their works. Though the exhibitions received their fair share of criticism, the group courted attention from the public and other artists for their expressiveness. Macke’s promising career ended when he died at the war front in France on 26 September 1914.

What was August Macke Known For?

August Macke was known for painting portraits and domestic scenes from everyday life. Since his first encounter with the Impressionist style, Macke maintained the subject matter throughout his career. However, he altered and experimented with his painting style after making acquaintances with Franz Marc and Robert Delaunay.

Who was August Macke Influenced By?

August Macke was influenced by Franz Marc and Robert Delaunay. After Macke met Marc in Munich, he adopted a more expressive form of painting in his works, paying less attention to detail and focusing on expression. In 1912, Macke met Delaunay and introduced cubist forms in his artwork.