The Violent Modernity of Ludwig Meidner’s 'Apocalyptic Landscape'

From Cubism to Futurism to the Russian avant-garde, the first decade of the 20th century saw a burgeoning artistic creativity seize the European continent along with a foreboding tension that would give way to the First World War. In this episode of Masterworks: Expert Voices, worldwide head of Impressionist and Modern Art Helena Newman explores the thrilling confluence of this intense energy in Ludwig Meidner’s dual-sided painting Apokalyptische Landschaft from 1912. Drawing from biblical imagery of apocalypse, Meidner’s expressionist masterpiece reflects the social, political and emotional upheaval in Germany at the time. In stark contrast, the verso depicts a portrait, Junger Mann mit Strohhut, of a young man enveloped in the joy of life afforded during the pre-war Edwardian era. Apokalyptische Landschaft will be offered as a highlight of The Beautiful and Damned series of works in Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale. (12 November | New York)

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