Else Berg

Else Berg (1877-1942) was a German painter and graphic artist, primarily associated with the late German Expressionist movement. Born in Nuremberg, Germany, she trained at the Debschitz School in Munich and later with Lovis Corinth in Berlin.

Berg is best known for her vibrant and often satirical depictions of Berlin's urban life during the Weimar Republic. Her work frequently captured the energy and decadence of the period, featuring portraits of dancers, actors, and everyday people. She was also a member of the November Group, a radical association of artists formed in the aftermath of World War I.

Her style is characterized by bold colors, simplified forms, and a focus on emotional expression. While her early work showed influences of Impressionism and Art Nouveau, she eventually developed a distinctive Expressionist aesthetic.

With the rise of the Nazi regime, Berg's art was condemned as "degenerate," and she was forbidden to exhibit her work. She and her husband, Angelo Jank, were ostracized and faced increasing persecution. In 1942, Else Berg was deported to the Riga Ghetto, where she was murdered.

Despite the destruction of much of her work during the Nazi era, Else Berg's surviving paintings and prints provide valuable insights into the social and cultural climate of interwar Germany. Her contribution to German Expressionism is increasingly recognized.