EMILE NOLDE
German, 18671956
South Sea Islander,
1914
Watercolor.
19 3/4 x 14 3/4 in. (49 x 37 cm)
University Purchase Fund. 69.108
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Nolde began his career as a woodcarver in a furniture factory, but after
some successful forays into painting, he had, at the age of 38, his first
one-man show in Dresden. This would prove a turning point for him; he was
invited to join the Die Brücke group of German Expressionists,
and, though he remained a peripheral member for the next year and a half,
their energy and ideas were liberating for the older but less-experienced
Nolde.
In 1913 the German Colonial Ministry invited Nolde to join the Kutz-Leber
expedition to the South Seas. The intention of this group was to study health
standards in New Guinea. Traveling across Russia, Siberia, and Manchuria
en route, he filled numerous sketchbooks as well as painting large-scale
works, many of which were confiscated by the British at the outbreak of
World War I and not returned until many years later.
South Sea Islander was probably painted from life rather than executed
later in his studio. The figure, facing us directly and with broad, accentuated
features, is typical of his portraits from this period. Like many of his
contemporaries, Nolde was greatly influenced by African art as well as other
"primitive" styles, and that influence can be seen here. He chose
a paper native to New Guinea, which necessitated using a much drier brush,
because the surface was extremely absorbent and caused the watercolor to
bleed easily. His style of broad areas of wash rather than detailed brushstrokes
was conducive to working with this paper, and the result is a richly rendered
portrait.
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