Lovis Corinth (1858-1926)

'In the spring of 1900 Corinth moved to the German capital, which was to become the scene of his triumph and of his fame... For a time Berlin became the artistic hub of the empire. Now came Corinth's greatest epoch. Along with Liebermann and Slevogt he became one of the leaders of German Impressionism, and in 1915 succeeded the former as President of the Berlin Secession... The abundance of his life is interrelated with the development of his style. His palette becomes richer, brighter and more colourful. The paint gushes and foams; laid on with boldness and verve, it sprays lavishly across the canvas' (exh. cat., Lovis Corinth, London, 1959).

Painted in 1921, Gelbe und rote Astern (Herbstblumen) is a powerful example of the richly expressive brushwork and vigorous, painterly manner that characterises Corinth's mature output. This trademark flamboyant style - broad, swift brushstrokes and bold, vibrant colour - had first appeared in his still-lifes as early as 1910, when he had begun to establish his reputation as the most original and dynamic painter of the German Impressionist triumvirate. Corinth's fluid, confident brushstroke and exuberant palette recalls Manet's still-lifes and betrays the pervading influence of French Impressionism on his career, while the thickly worked paint surface is testament to the continuing development of his style throughout the Berlin period.