Heinrich Mathias Ernst Campendonk began his professional life as an apprentice to a textile merchant before transitioning into the formal study of arts and crafts. Over a career spanning several decades in Germany and the Netherlands, he established himself as a versatile figure across multiple mediums, including painting, graphic design, mural production, and specialized stained-glass artistry.
Formative Years and Influences
Born in Krefeld on 3 November 1889, Campendonk received his foundational education between 1905 and 1909. His training took place under the instruction of Johan Thorn Prikker at the Handwerker- und Kunstgewerbeschule. This environment facilitated connections with several notable contemporaries, including Paul Klee, Franz Marc, August Macke, Helmuth Macke, and Wilhelm Wieger. By 1911, he had integrated into the Der Blaue Reiter movement, remaining associated with the collective through 1912.
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During the 1930s, Campendonk secured a teaching position at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. During this period, he utilized the assistance of student Wilhelm Teuwen to facilitate the technical production of stained glass. Following the rise of the Nazi regime in 1933, the state labeled his output as degenerate. Consequently, he faced a prohibition against exhibiting his work and was dismissed from his post at the academy.
Relocation and Final Years
Seeking refuge from political persecution, Campendonk relocated to the Netherlands. He eventually secured a role at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, where he instructed students in printmaking, stained-glass design, and decorative art. He eventually rose to the position of director at the institution. Campendonk, having become a naturalized Dutch citizen, remained in the Netherlands until his death on 9 May 1957. He is buried at Begraafplaats Buitenveldert.
Fast facts
- Born: 3 November 1889, Krefeld
- Died: 9 May 1957, Amsterdam
- Movement: Expressionism
- Occupations: Illustrator, painter, university teacher, graphic artist, stained-glass artist, muralist, designer, draftsperson
- Nationality: German, Dutch
- Burial site: Begraafplaats Buitenveldert
Questions readers ask
Which artistic movement was Campendonk associated with?
He was a member of the Der Blaue Reiter group from 1911 to 1912 and was an exponent of Expressionism.
Why did Campendonk leave Germany for the Netherlands?
The Nazi regime classified him as a degenerate artist in 1933, leading to the termination of his academic appointment and a ban on his exhibitions.
Achievements
- Movement: Expressionism
