There is hardly an artist that devoted more pieces of art to Curonian Spit and Memelland than Karl Knauf (1893–1944), a famous German landscapist. German impressionists largely followed their French colleagues – for them a new direction in art was also a way to look at the world and convey images on canvas at another angle.
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Karl Knauf
Kȍnigsberg
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Knauf studied at the Academy of Arts in Dusseldorf and after the First World War relocated to Kȍnigsberg. However, he didn’t stay long in the city. Soon he opened Curonian Spit for himself and preferred to settle down in Memel (now known as Klaipeda). At the same time Knauf undertook several trips to Majorca and to Alps as well as visited North Africa. Having returned to the homeland he became popular in a short period. His pieces of art were exhibited at the exhibition of Kȍnigsberg Arts Association and well sold.
In 1930 Knauf built a small private house in Nidden where he resided and worked until his death in 1944. In mid 19th century an artistic colony which attracted artists from all over Eastern Prussia sprang up there. Located on Curonian Spit the city attracted craftsmen by his beautiful views and comfortable atmosphere. The paintings by Knauf who was an amateur of open air art and always painted from life reflected that atmosphere in full scope. The artist skillfully conveyed the ever-changing light in the dunes.
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The city landscape of Kȍnigsberg presented at the exhibition blended many features typical for picturesque manner of the artist.
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On the foreground of the painting there is a single-master sailing vessel standing near the shore. In the snow-capped trees there is a corner of the old university building in Kneiphof and at a distance one can see an all-around view to the houses of the Upper Fish market and medieval towers of the Royal castle. This work demonstrates the artist’s skills to convey the subtlest coloristic transfers in the landscape. The house and the tower are as if melting in the afternoon sunset light. The ochre tints of the building facades contrast with the drown in the shadow university building.
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During the Second World War the art pieces of Knauf practically didn’t suffer. Most of them are now kept with private collections as well as in the state museum of Eastern Prussia in Luneburg.
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Kȍnigsberg Museum of Fine Arts
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Kȍnigsberg
Creation period
1925
Dimensions
46x55 cm
Technique
Canvas, oil
Collection
2
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