Ludwig Meidner (1884-1966) studied at the art School in Breslau (Wroclaw) before moving to Berlin and in 1906, to Paris. He befriended Modigliani and admired the works of Manet, Van Gogh and Cézanne. Returning to Berlin in 1908 he frequented the Café des Westerns, participating in the avant-garde life of the city while struggling to make a living.
In 1912, together with Jacob Steinhardt and Richard Janthur, he founded «Die Pathetiker», whose works were exhibited at the Herwarth Walden's gallery «Der Sturm». Between 1912 and 1916, when he was drafted into the army, Meidner painted a series of apocalyptic landscapes, which prefigured the destructions of the First World War. He also painted portraits of his friends and embarked on a remarkable series of self-portraits, which would continue to absorb him throughout his career.
His early portraits are marked by a highly charged emotionalism, with severely distorted features, reflecting the tormented and convulsive style found in the apocalyptic landscapes.
In 1918 Meidner was given his first exhibition at the Galerie Paul Cassirer in Berlin and became a founding member of the «Novembergruppe». His work in the 1920's included a series of graphics on Jewish themes. With the rise of Nazism Meidner came under attack and 84 of his paintings were seized from German museums. One of his self-portraits was placed in the «Jewish gallery» of the «Degenerate Art» (Entartete Kunst) exhibition «Der ewige Jude» (The eternal Jew) in Munich in 1937.
In 1938 Meidner fled to England with the help of the artist Augustus John.
He returned to Germany in 1952, and lived there until his death His works are now rated between US $ 10,000 and 1 million.
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