German artist Hermann Maurer whipped up wild imagery of the German landscape with his staccato brushstrokes and his lavish use of colour. Hermann seems to derive much inspiration from naturalism and the emotional work of the impressionists.

His thick layering of paint creates a current across a lake’s surface. A town is swallowed by the burgeoning sunset, an agitated set of strikes upon the canvas creating the walls of buildings and the spire of a church. He seems to have had an affinity for the sun-christened sky. Many of his works make the shifting sun their main motif.

Maurer’s works are the true legacy of his life, and sadly little much else is known about the artist. He was active predominantly in Munich and seems to have derived inspiration from the offerings of the countryside surrounding the metropolis. He often features the nearby Lake Starnberg in his work, the perfect mirror to allow him to reflect on the setting sun. It is also thought that he lived for a time in Wessling, just outside of Munich. This would have allowed him to make the best of both the natural world and the flourishing arts scene in Munich. The city’s art school was one of the most renowned in the early 20th century.

Maurer was part of the Reich Association of Fine Arts in Germany, which ensured the economic stability of artists so they could keep working. It seems, then, that Maurer was an active participant in the German art scene and was determined enough to seek the means to make art his living. Whilst the details of his life might remain as hazy as the scenery swallowed by the coming night, his work leaves a legacy as bright and blazing as the sun.

1874

Born in Munich.

1945

Died in Munich.