Joseph Kutter
Encyclopedia
Joseph Jean Ferdinand Kutter (1894–1941) is considered one of Luxembourg
's most important painters. He was greatly influenced by the Impressionists
but developed his own distinctive Expressionist
style.
where his father, Paul Kutter
, was one of the city's early photographers. Hoping to become a painter, he first attended the Ecole d'Artisans in Luxembourg and then the schools of decorative art in Strasbourg and Munich. From 1917 to 1918, he studied at the Munich Academy
where he was introduced to a style of painting inspired by Wilhelm Leibl
.
. Although he returned to Luxembourg in 1924, he continued to exhibit in Munich until 1932 as a result of the negative criticism his nude paintings received in his home town. From 1925, he became increasingly interested in Flemish Expressionism which was flourishing in Belgium and France. Encouraged by André de Ridder, a Belgian art critic and strong supporter of Expressionism, Kutter participated in the 1926 Salon d'Automne
in Paris. The same year, he became a founding member of the avant-garde Luxembourg secession movement
, exhibiting at its salon in 1927.
He also continued to exhibit regularly at the Salon d'automne in Paris
. His abilities were widely recognized in France
and Belgium
, much less so in Germany
. In 1933, he ceased exhibiting in Germany after being considered a degenerate as Hitler gained power. In 1936, he was commissioned to paint two large works of "Luxembourg" and "Clervaux" for the French International Exposition. While he was working on them, he began to suffer from a painful disease which the doctors were unable to diagnose. Later, during his better periods, he painted his clowns which reveal his suffering and anxiety. He died on 2 January 1941 in Luxembourg City.
From 1918, Kutter's paintings increasingly began to present Expressionist
motifs, especially in his landscapes and floral works where intense lines and colours became prominent. Although Kutter spent a number of years in Germany, his work was influenced above all by trends in France and Belgium. His centre of attention was the human figure. He often represented his subjects as sad, despairing clowns.
The two large paintings (of Luxembourg City and Clervaux
) he was commissioned to paint for Luxembourg's pavilion at the 1937 World Exposition in Pairs are excellent examples of his maturing Expressionist style. In his painting of "Luxembourg" (above), his view of the city accentuates the stacked terracing of the houses, emphasizes the cubic appearance of the buildings, bestows a harsh appearance on the defensive walls and brings out the strength of the fortifications.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's most important painters. He was greatly influenced by the Impressionists
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
but developed his own distinctive Expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
style.
Early life
Kutter was born on 12 December 1894 in Luxembourg CityLuxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
where his father, Paul Kutter
Paul Kutter
Paul Robert Kutter was one of Luxembourg City's early photographers. Born in Flums, Switzerland, he opened his first studio in 1883 at 6, rue Wiltheim, close to Luxembourg's Bock...
, was one of the city's early photographers. Hoping to become a painter, he first attended the Ecole d'Artisans in Luxembourg and then the schools of decorative art in Strasbourg and Munich. From 1917 to 1918, he studied at the Munich Academy
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
where he was introduced to a style of painting inspired by Wilhelm Leibl
Wilhelm Leibl
Wilhelm Maria Hubertus Leibl was a German realist painter of portraits and scenes of peasant life.Leibl was born in Cologne and in 1861 began his first training with Hermann Becker, a local painter. He entered the Munich Academy in 1864, subsequently studying with several artists including Carl...
.
Artistic career
From 1919, after being strongly influenced by Cézanne, he presented his paintings at the Secessionist exhibitions in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Although he returned to Luxembourg in 1924, he continued to exhibit in Munich until 1932 as a result of the negative criticism his nude paintings received in his home town. From 1925, he became increasingly interested in Flemish Expressionism which was flourishing in Belgium and France. Encouraged by André de Ridder, a Belgian art critic and strong supporter of Expressionism, Kutter participated in the 1926 Salon d'Automne
Salon d'Automne
In 1903, the first Salon d'Automne was organized by Georges Rouault, André Derain, Henri Matisse, Angele Delasalle and Albert Marquet as a reaction to the conservative policies of the official Paris Salon...
in Paris. The same year, he became a founding member of the avant-garde Luxembourg secession movement
Salon de la Sécession
The Salon de la Sécession was an Avant-gardist art exhibition which was held in Luxembourg each year from 1927 to 1930. It was the main event of the Luxembourg Secession movement which had been founded in 1926 by a number of artists including Claus Cito, Nico Klopp, Joseph Kutter and Auguste...
, exhibiting at its salon in 1927.
He also continued to exhibit regularly at the Salon d'automne in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His abilities were widely recognized in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, much less so in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1933, he ceased exhibiting in Germany after being considered a degenerate as Hitler gained power. In 1936, he was commissioned to paint two large works of "Luxembourg" and "Clervaux" for the French International Exposition. While he was working on them, he began to suffer from a painful disease which the doctors were unable to diagnose. Later, during his better periods, he painted his clowns which reveal his suffering and anxiety. He died on 2 January 1941 in Luxembourg City.
Style
In Kutter's paintings, the subjects often stand in the foreground as if being photographed. His portraits, painted with strong brushstrokes, typically show figures with excessively large noses, always attracting attention.From 1918, Kutter's paintings increasingly began to present Expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
motifs, especially in his landscapes and floral works where intense lines and colours became prominent. Although Kutter spent a number of years in Germany, his work was influenced above all by trends in France and Belgium. His centre of attention was the human figure. He often represented his subjects as sad, despairing clowns.
The two large paintings (of Luxembourg City and Clervaux
Clervaux
Clervaux is a commune and town in northern Luxembourg, administrative capital of the canton of Clervaux.-History:The city was the site of heavy fighting during World War II, in the December 1944 .-Population:...
) he was commissioned to paint for Luxembourg's pavilion at the 1937 World Exposition in Pairs are excellent examples of his maturing Expressionist style. In his painting of "Luxembourg" (above), his view of the city accentuates the stacked terracing of the houses, emphasizes the cubic appearance of the buildings, bestows a harsh appearance on the defensive walls and brings out the strength of the fortifications.
Selected works
- "The Champion" (1932), National Museum of Art and History, Luxembourg, depicts the Luxembourg racing cyclist Nicolas FrantzNicolas FrantzNicolas Frantz , born in Mamer, Luxembourg, was a bicycle racer with 60 professional racing victories over his 12-year career . He rode for the Thomann team in 1923 and then for Alcyon-Dunlop from 1924 to 1931. He won the Tour de France in 1927 and 1928.Nicolas Frantz was the son of a prosperous...
(1899–1985). - "The Wooden Horse" (1937), National Museum of Art and History, Luxembourg.
- "Luxembourg" (1936–37), National Museum of Art and History, Luxembourg.
- "Clervaux" (1936–37), National Museum of Art and History, Luxembourg.
Further reading
- Joseph-Emile Muller: Kutter (Monographie). UNIL, Luxembourg, 1945
- Ingeborg Kuhn-Regnier: Joseph Kutter. Editions de l'Imprimerie Saint-Paul, Luxembourg, 1990
- Frédéric Humbel: J.K. la vie et l'œuvre de Joseph Kutter. Promotion 4 a.s.b.l., Luxembourg, 1994
- Jean Luc Koltz, Edmond Thill, Robert Wagner: Joseph Kutter, Luxembourg, 1894-1941. Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, Ministère des Affaires Culturelles, Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art, 1994
- Jean Luc Koltz, Edmond Thill: Joseph Kutter. Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre. Editions Saint-Paul, Luxembourg, 2e éd. 2008