ERNST and ERNA: Expressionism, War, and Hitler

By Don Winton

Can a woman's love for a man compete with his love for his art? ERNST and ERNA tells the story of the complicated relationship between a self-absorbed artist and his model/lover/manager during a time of great upheaval in Germany and the world. Ernst Ludwig Kirchner became the progenitor of German expressionism at the beginning of the 20th century. He sought sensual harmony of life and art, free of social constraints and bourgeois restrictions. His paintings and sculptures defied establishment norms. His passion was invested in his work and his prickly nature resulted in antagonizing his peers. His world unraveled during the Great War and completely collapsed with the inclusion of his art in Hitler's Degenerate Art Show. Erna Schilling was a dance hall performer who was in search of a better life when she encountered the rebellious, domineering artist. She became his lover and model, but she wanted more. Having comforted him after the emotional break-up of Die Br?cke and his debilitating experience in the army, Erna tried to protect him from his self-destructive instincts as the invading Nazi forces entered Austria in 1938, too close to their Davos, Switzerland sanctuary. ERNST and ERNA also explores the art world, as German artists competed against the popularity of the French Impressionists. The art community exploded into chaos when Hitler took power and declared war against modern art. The impact of the Nazi confiscation of art from Jewish families is well documented. The emotional impact of the cultural assault on the artists is now revealed with ERNST and ERNA.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1090645856
• ISBN13: 9781090645852
• Release Date: March 2019
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 379 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.9" x 6.0"