Willy Kaufmann

Alfred Flechtheim and Willy Kaufmann

Arthur Kaufmann is one of the main representatives of Rheinisch Expressionism and New Objectivity. He made a name for himself as an excellent portraitist in particular. His most impressive works include portraits of avant-garde artists and the intellectual elite in Germany.

From 1904–06 Kaufmann completed his studies in painting at the Düsseldorfer Kunstakademie. This was followed by periods studying abroad in France, Italy and England, among others. After World War I Kaufmann returned to Düsseldorf in 1919. He was the driving force behind the artists’ association ‘Das Junge Rheinland’ that, through its exhibitions, played an important role in establishing German avant-garde art. In 1929 Kaufmann founded the Städtische Schule für Dekorative Kunst in Düsseldorf and took on its management. After the Nazis seized power in 1933 he was dismissed for racist reasons. He went into exile in Holland from where he emigrated to America in 1936 and earned his keep as a portrait painter. After World War II he took up a teaching post at the Washington School of Art and paid regularly visits to Germany from 1953 until shortly before his death to oversee exhibitions of his works.

Arthur Kaufmann was represented at the very first exhibition at the Galerie Flechtheim in 1913/14. Works created during his stay in Italy that had been turned down by the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf were shown. Kaufmann also participated in the first group exhibition after the reopening of the gallery in 1919 and his works were shown at Flechtheim’s until late 1920, although he actually belonged to the close circle of artists around the art dealer Johanna ‘Mother’ Ey and was generally obliged to sell through her. Flechtheim however had close ties to ‘Das Junge Rheinland’. The group considered him a member of their advisory committee and their exhibition agenda has a close affinity with that of Flechtheim’s gallery.