Wilhelm Lehmbruck (1881-1919) is one of the most important German sculptors of the 20th century. His oeuvre includes about 100 sculptures, more than 1000 drawings, 80 paintings and large-format drawings and 200 prints. This versatility and the experimentation with different techniques and materials are characteristic of the generation of Expressionists. Based on its own extensive holdings, the exhibition at the Staatsgalerie will trace Wilhelm Lehmbruck's working methods and show cut versions of his most important sculptures, such as the Große Sinnende, the Emporsteigende Jüngling, the Große Stehende, and the Kniende. Among German artists, Lehmbruck was one of the first to use not only traditional materials such as bronze and marble, but also materials that were highly innovative in his time, such as terracotta, stone/cement casting, and stucco casting for his works. Whether this different materiality within his sculptures can be attributed to a conscious decision in terms of content and aesthetics or to considerably lower production costs is one of the most difficult questions to resolve in Lehmbruck research.
Accompanying the exhibition "Wilhelm Lehmbruck. Variation and Perfection" in the Staatsgalerie, works on paper by Wilhelm Lehmbruck are presented in the Graphik-Kabinett.
The occasion for both exhibitions is the purchase of a group of three sculptures, 20 drawings and 49 prints that have been on loan to the Staatsgalerie collection since 1960. The museum succeeded in convincing the owners to permanently transfer the works to the collection. With the help of various partners, the Museumsstiftung Baden-Württemberg, the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung, the financial feat of a purchase has been accomplished.