Knabe zwischen Blattpflanzen (Knabe im Schilf) (1912)

Otto Mueller (1874–1930) emerged as an influential German painter and printmaker, most widely recognized for his involvement with the expressionist group Die Brücke (The Bridge). Founded in Dresden in the early 20th century, Die Brücke consisted of artists seeking to move beyond academic traditions and embrace vibrant colors and expressive emotion. Mueller became part of this group in 1910 and distinguished himself with a style all his own within the collective.

Mueller was born in Liebau—present-day Lubawka, Kamienna Góra County—located in what was then Silesia. His formative years were shaped by an education in the graphic arts. Between 1890 and 1892, he worked as a lithographer's apprentice in Görlitz and Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland), acquiring practical skills in printmaking that would later shape his artistry. This technical background set Mueller apart, providing him with expertise that enhanced his expressive art.

From 1894 to 1896, Mueller pursued further studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden, moving in 1898 to Munich to continue his training. His stay in Munich, however, proved brief; Mueller left after Franz von Stuck, a renowned artist and professor, judged him to lack talent. Undeterred by this obstacle, Mueller responded by charting his own artistic course, which led to the evolution of his signature, poetic style.

Over the span of his career, Otto Mueller gained acclaim for serene, streamlined images of nudes and Romani (Sinti and Roma) figures situated in tranquil, natural settings. His paintings are marked by earthy, subdued hues and an understated but harmonious relationship between subject and environment. Widely regarded for his role in German Expressionism and the broader modern art movement, Mueller’s works are included in major museum collections throughout Europe.