-Lyonel Feininger

When Rudolph Wilke died at age 35 of diabetes, the art world mourned. As a forerunner of charactature and political satire in the German culture, Rudolph brought the world around him in Germany into clear focus using a keen sense of observation and very humanistic traits in his drawings.

Classically trained at the Academie Julien in Paris, Rudolph later rejected the canvas in favor of drawing. His style looks very sketchlike, with his "electric lines" bringing both expressionistic and three-dimensional attributes to the forms he placed on paper.

Germany at the turn of the century was distinctly class-stratified. This was beginning to bring social tensions to the surface. Certain political satirist magazines became immensely popular as they mocked the lifestyles of upper-class citizens and politicians. One of the best known of these magazines, and most biting, was Simplicissimus, for which Rudolph became a major contributor as an illustrator.

Rudolph was the first Simplicissimus artist to explore the experiences of the rich as well as those of the poor, but certainly not the last, as many other artists for the magazine would eventually follow in his footsteps. Rudolph's sharply accurate but still sympathizing views of the society in which he lived would eventually gain him great popularity. If you would like to make an inquiry about purchasing pieces by Rudolph, or if you would like more information about him, please email nick@wilkearts.com.