Three Girls in a Wood 1920

Otto Mueller made this painting, "Three Girls in a Wood," with distemper on canvas, though the exact date is unknown. The figures' elongated forms and simplified features suggest the influence of non-Western art, particularly from Oceania. As a member of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, Mueller sought to express emotion through simplified forms and vibrant colors. The Brücke artists often looked to non-European cultures for inspiration, seeking an alternative to the perceived decadence and alienation of modern European society. The setting is in a wood, where the artist presents a vision of harmony with nature. To understand the painting more fully, we might look into the history of German Expressionism and its relationship to broader cultural and political trends in early 20th-century Europe. We can investigate the institutional history of museums, galleries, and art schools that promoted and shaped Expressionism. This helps us to see the painting not just as a reflection of individual creativity but as a product of specific historical and cultural forces.