Ernst Wilhelm Nay is regarded as one of the major artists of the twentieth century. This richly illustrated volume offers a comprehensive insight into his paintings and graphic work from 1925 until his death in 1968 and reveals the intricate relationships between his life, artistic milieu and historical context for the first time. The book traces every stage of his artistic development, from his beginnings in 1920s Berlin to the late works created in Upper Bavaria and Cologne. It follows the artist on his many journeys and extended stays along the Baltic coast, to the Lofoten Islands, and in France and the United States, illuminating his path towards abstraction and exploring the philosophical foundations of his artistic thought. Biographical notes of Nay’s friends, patrons and close associates, together with a comprehensive index, open up new perspectives on his oeuvre. This makes this monograph a definitive reference work on Ernst Wilhelm Nay and an indispensable resource for the study of twentieth century art.

Ernst Wilhelm Nay (1902–1968) is considered one of the most important

painters of European modernism. With a body of work that constantly shifts between figuration and abstraction his art remains as relevant today as ever. From his early expressive phases through to his late work, he created a distinctive, vibrantly colored body of work that spans his entire career.