# Wilhelm Lehmbruck artist context and auction value notes

Canonical page: https://appraisily.com/artist/wilhelm-lehmbruck/
Profile generated: 2026-05-16T20:03:00.000Z
Quality: high confidence, strong sources

## Artist identity

- Birth date: 1881-01-04
- Death date: 1919-03-25
- Nationality: German
- Movements: Expressionism, Realism
- Common media: sculpture, lithography, etching, painting

## About Wilhelm Lehmbruck

Wilhelm Lehmbruck (1881–1919) was a German sculptor, painter, and printmaker widely regarded as one of the most important sculptors of his generation. Born in Duisburg, he trained in Düsseldorf before studying and traveling in Italy and later establishing a studio in Paris around 1910. Lehmbruck's mature work moved from naturalistic modeling toward a more elongated, emotionally expressive figuration that aligned him with Expressionism, even as his grounding in classical and realist traditions remained visible. His sculptural figures—often solitary, contemplative, and subtly attenuated—earned him recognition across Europe before the First World War. He spent the war years in Germany and, following the conflict, died in Berlin in March 1919 at the age of thirty-eight. Today his work is held by major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London, and numerous German museums, confirming his lasting significance in early twentieth-century European art.

## Common works and media

Lehmbruck is best known for standing and seated figural sculptures, often executed in bronze, terracotta, or stone, characterized by elongated proportions and introspective poses. He also produced lithographs, etchings, and paintings. Print subjects include single figures, nudes, and portrait heads. Collectors may encounter both original lifetime casts and later posthumous editions of his sculptures, as well as unsigned drawings and prints that require careful attribution.

## Market and appraisal context

Wilhelm Lehmbruck's relatively short career and early death mean his total output is limited, which is a factor collectors should consider when evaluating availability and rarity. His most sought-after works tend to be original sculptures in bronze or stone, while his lithographs and etchings appear more frequently on the market. Provenance, exhibition history, condition, and whether a sculpture is an lifetime cast or a posthumous edition all materially affect appraisal. Collectors should verify attribution through the Lehmbruck catalogue raisonné or expert consultation, particularly for unsigned works on paper.

## Appraisily data basis

This Appraisily artist page combines identity research from museum records, library authority files, and artist databases with auction records, sale dates, realized prices, and comparable lots when those records are available. Sources include the Getty Union List of Artist Names, RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History, MoMA, Tate, VIAF, and Wikidata.

## Sources

- Wikidata: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q551282
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Lehmbruck
- Getty Vocabulary Program: https://vocab.getty.edu/page/ulan/500019056
- VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/32269139/
- Library of Congress: https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n85094151
- The Museum of Modern Art: https://www.moma.org/artists/3464
- Tate: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/wilhelm-lehmbruck-1490
- RKD: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/49130