Bronze sculpture "Kussgruppe I" (1921) by Ernst Barlach, limited museum replica

Ernst Barlach – born on January 2, 1870, in Wedel, Holstein, and died on October 24, 1938, in Rostock – occupies a unique and exceptional position within German Expressionism. As a graphic artist, draftsman, writer, and especially as a sculptor, Barlach created milestones in art history. His sculptures explore and depict the limits of human experience, and therein lies their profound impact. These are works of multifaceted meaning, with which he foregrounded the essence of humanity and that which transcends the self and the things of the world. Barlach's intention is rooted in the depths, in the inner self. Shaped by war and harsh living conditions, he experienced both suffering and joy from this inner perspective. And always, humanity stands at the center of his work: Ecce homo. "However, I desire nothing other than to be, for better or for worse, an artist. It is my belief that that which cannot be expressed through the work itself can be conveyed to another through form. My passion and creative drive constantly revolve around the problems of the meaning of life and the other great mountains in the spiritual realm." (Ernst Barlach) Ernst Barlach became an honorary member of the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, in 1925. In 1933, he was appointed a Knight of the Peace Class of the Order "Pour le Mérite." In 1937, the National Socialists removed his works from public collections and spaces as "degenerate art." Ernst Barlach died in Rostock on October 24, 1938. Today, Ernst Barlach's works are an integral part of leading museums and collections and—when available—fetch record prices at auctions. "The Singing Man" became Ernst Barlach's most famous sculpture, an icon of modernism. It adorns picture books and posters worldwide, and the original edition is a permanent part of the collections of the world's major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.