Otto Freundlich, 1878-1943

Jeanne Freundlich Kosnich-Kloss, Paris (the artist's wife)
Pierre Bourru, Saint-Germain-en-Laye (acquired from the above)
Acquired from the above by the present owner circa 1990

Otto Freundlich was born in Stolp (now Stupsk in Poland) in 1878.  He initially studied History of Art in Munich and Berlin before turning to painting at the age of 27.  His early influences included Die Brücke and Die Blaue Reiter movements in Germany.  In 1909 he moved to Paris where he became influenced by young artists such as Picasso, Braque and Gris.  During this time, he became increasingly interested in abstract art, joining the group Abstraction-Création. He also worked on stained glass at Chartres cathedral which perhaps served to influence his later kaleidoscope paintings through their fragmented designs.  A victim of Nazism, Freundlich's art was condemned as degenerate and many works were destroyed from 1937 onwards.  He continued to paint until he was captured in Paris and sent to Lublin-Maidanek concentration camp where he died in 1943.