Fritz Reusing

FRITZ REUSING (Germany, 1874-1956).
"Self-portrait", 1905.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated in the lower left corner.
It has a patch on the back.

In this self-portrait, Fritz Reusing paints himself before what we imagine to be a finished painting. Of the large canvas we only see the support, and before it its author, who looks at us while holding a cigarette in his right hand. It can be presumed that the painter has not wanted to characterize himself as a bohemian painter but as an elegant character dressed in an elegant suit, with a starched collar and tie. With this, he gives us to understand the high level of his clientele, who effectively belonged to the high bourgeoisie and the nobility: from the famous scientist Albert Einstein to the German kaisers and the leaders of the army. Reusing's brush was skillful in evoking the character of each model. He was praised for his lively brushwork; each stroke on the canvas instilled charisma into the subject. This is also evident in the vivid and inquisitive self-portraits.

Reusing trained at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and followed in the long artistic footsteps of his predecessors at one of Germany's most prestigious art institutions. The Düsseldorf School was known for its romantic and lively paintings. Moreover, Reusing's skill attracted a large number of clients. In portrait painting, in particular, his romantic but naturalistic style was extremely popular. The traditions of the Düsseldorf School were upheld with steely determination, and Reusing was its greatest advocate in the field of portraiture.

His portraits of military leaders, in particular, are imbued with a strong sense of courage and vainglory. His intention was to depict models with as much pomp as possible, painted during the wartime of the early twentieth century. Reusing's brush could adapt to any model in any context and produce work grounded in realism, but infused with just enough romanticism to emphasize the spirit of his models.

These efforts earned Reusing great recognition. He exhibited widely and won medals at international exhibitions, such as the one held in Munich in 1901. Indeed, his passion paid off and is fully evident in the numerous art societies and associations he joined, especially in Düsseldorf. Although his career took him all over the world, Reusing returned to the place where it all began and became an active part of the art scene. The city rewarded him handsomely, and his legacy goes far beyond his paintings. A street in the town of Haan, on the outskirts of Düsseldorf, bears his name.

Born in Mülheim, he became a member of the Malkasten Artists' Association in 1897. In 1901 he was awarded a gold medal at the International Art Exhibition in Munich. In 1911 he exhibited at the Great Art Exhibition in Berlin. In 1918 he was appointed honorary member of the Düsseldorf Academy of Art.