Felix Esterl Paintings

Felix Esterl was an Austrian painter associated with the Expressionist movement, born in 1894 in Linz, Austria. He showed an early interest in art and eventually moved to Munich, Germany, where he studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. Esterl was deeply influenced by the works of Vincent van Gogh and other Post-Impressionists, as well as by fellow Expressionists like Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc. His works are characterized by vivid colors, emotional intensity, and often a sense of inner turmoil.

During his relatively short life, Esterl became known for his expressive landscapes, still lifes, and portraits that captured the psychological state of his subjects. He was also a part of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), though his involvement was peripheral compared to core members of the group. His association with other avant-garde artists of the time helped him in developing his distinctive style.

Esterl's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1931 at the age of 37. Despite his early death, he left behind a body of work that continued to influence Austrian and German art. His art was later deemed 'degenerate' by the Nazis, and as a result, much of his work was either destroyed or fell into obscurity during the mid-20th century. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in Esterl's work, and he is now recognized as an important figure in the Expressionist movement, with his paintings held in various collections and museums in Austria and Germany.