Still life with apples and bananas

Paula Modersohn-Becker, born Paula Hermina Becker on February 8, 1876, in Dresden, Germany, emerged as a pioneering figure in early Expressionism. As the third of seven children in a family that valued art and literature, her upbringing was steeped in cultural richness. Her father, Carl Woldemar Becker, an engineer with the Prussian Railway Administration, and her mother, Mathilde, from the noble von Bültzingslöwen family, provided a backdrop of intellectual and artistic stimulation. Modersohn-Becker's brief but prolific career, spanning less than 14 years, yielded an impressive oeuvre including 750 paintings, around 1,000 drawings, and 13 etchings, marking her as a significant voice in the transition to modern art. Her work, characterized by bold experimentation and emotional depth, was influenced by her time in the artist colony of Worpswede and her studies in Paris, where she absorbed the avant-garde movements of the time. Despite her untimely death at the age of 31 on November 20, 1907, in Worpswede, Modersohn-Becker's legacy endures as a trailblazer for female artists and a key contributor to the Expressionist movement. Her art, often focusing on themes of motherhood, nature, and the human condition, continues to be celebrated for its innovative approach and profound sensitivity.