Georg Kolbe

Georg Kolbe (15 April 1877 – 20 November 1947) was the leading German figure sculptor of his generation, in a vigorous, modern, simplified classical style similar to Aristide Maillol of France.

Kolbe was born in Waldheim (Sachsen). He studied Rodin, during half a year in Paris, in 1897. Originally trained as a painter in Dresden, Munich, and Paris, he began sculpting during a stay in Rome at the turn of the century under the technical guidance of sculptor Louis Tuaillon. In 1905, he joined the 'Berliner Sezession', which in 1913, he left to join the 'Freie Sezession'. His artistic breakthrough came in 1912 with his sculpture masterpiece "Die Tänzerin", his most famous work.

He executed important commissions throughout his long career, including many for the National Socialists during the last 15 years of his life. But many of his 1000 sculptures were destroyed by confiscation, bombing and melting for war purposes. His sculptures are in many museum collections in Europe, USA and Russia. He also collaborated with Mies van der Rohe for his sculpture in the Barcelona Pavilion. Kolbe studio where he lived and worked from 1929 to 1947 is located in Berlin-Westend, in Sensburger Allee. Georg Kolbe died in Berlin.

Awards

• 1905 Villa Romana prize

Gallery

• 

  Monument dedicated to the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, Frankfurt

• 

  Fliegender Genius (Flying Genius) in the German City of Ludwigshafen

• 

  Statues in the garden of Kolbe-Museum, Berlin

• 

  Der Morgen (morning) in Berlin-Schöneberg

• 

  1914-1918 You have not been in vain in Stralsund (1935)

External links

• The Georg Kolbe Museum
• Masters of 20th Century Figure Sculpture
• "Georg Kolbe", Artnet