While researching Aktivismus (in relationship to my Gaston Burssens binge[1]), I came across the powerful work of German female painter Paula Modersohn-Becker.

Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876 – 1907) is considered a representative of early expressionism.

She produced nude self-portraits of which the two depicted are perhaps examples. I’m too tired to check.

The one painting with the baby is particularly foretelling. When Paula’s long-lived wish to conceive and bear a child was fulfilled, her daughter Mathilde (Tillie) Modersohn was born but the joy became soon overshadowed by tragedy, as Paula Modersohn-Becker died suddenly in Worpswede on November 20th from an embolism.

Since she died young, she is one of the few 20th century artists whose work is in the public domain.