Gerhard Marcks (18 February 1889 – 13 November 1981) was a prominent German sculptor, also known for his drawings, woodcuts, lithographs, and ceramics.
Early Life:
Born in Berlin, Marcks apprenticed with sculptor Richard Scheibe at 18. He married Maria Schmidtlein in 1914 and had six children. He served in the German army during World War I, which affected his health.
Career Highlights:
Marcks was a founding member of Die Brücke and the Workers Council for Art. He joined the Bauhaus in 1919 as one of its first faculty members, teaching pottery. His early work focused on animal forms, later shifting to human figures.
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When the Bauhaus moved to Dessau in 1925, Marcks transitioned to the School of Applied Arts in Halle, becoming its director until dismissed by the Nazis in 1933. His work was labeled "degenerate," and many pieces were destroyed in 1937. Despite Nazi persecution, Marcks remained in Germany and continued his work.
Post-War and Legacy:
After World War II, Marcks taught sculpture in Hamburg before retiring to Cologne. He designed war memorials and his work appeared in three Olympic Games art competitions.
Marcks died in 1981 in Burgbrohl. The Gerhard Marcks Haus in Bremen, established in his honour, houses a significant collection of his works. In the U.S., Luther College in Iowa also holds a substantial collection, including his notable bronze statue Oedipus and Antigone (1960).
His niece, Marie Marcks, was a well-known illustrator in Germany.
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