In 1887, Lyonel Feininger traveled from New York City to Europe at sixteen to study music, only to pivot toward formal art training. His multidisciplinary career encompassed roles as a cartoonist, photographer, composer, and painter.
Early Career and Illustration
Feininger began his professional path as a cartoonist in 1894, contributing to numerous German, French, and American magazines, including Berliner Tageblatt and Ulk. In 1906, he gained notice for his work on the comic strips The Kin-der-Kids and Wee Willie Winkie's World for The Chicago Tribune. These illustrations were recognized for their graphic experimentation and formal grace before he transitioned into fine art at thirty-six.
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Upon the 1919 founding of the Bauhaus by Walter Gropius, Feininger was appointed as the inaugural faculty member, eventually leading the printmaking workshop. His professional associations spanned several significant movements, including the Berlin Secession, The Blue Rider, and Die Blaue Vier. He was also a member of the American Abstract Artists and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Transition and Creative Range
The artist frequently visited the island of Usedom between 1909 and 1918, drawing inspiration from the Baltic Sea landscape. Following the rise of the Nazi Party in 1933 and the subsequent branding of his work as degenerate, he returned to the United States. Beyond his primary output in painting and woodcutting, he produced a large body of photography after 1928 and composed various fugues for organ.
Fast facts
- Born: 1871, New York City
- Died: 1956, New York City
- Education: Académie Colarossi
- Movement: Expressionism
- Burial site: Mount Hope Cemetery
- Citizenship: United States
- Notable employers: Bauhaus, Black Mountain College
Questions readers ask
What subjects defined Feininger's visual style?
His work is characterized by translucent colors, overlapping forms, and frequent references to maritime settings and architecture.
Was Feininger active as a photographer?
Yes, he produced a large body of photographic work beginning in 1928, although these images remained within his private circle during his lifetime.
Achievements
- Movement: Expressionism
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