Portrait of Dr Edward Meyer (1855-1930), German historian

The sitter, distinguished by his beard, mustache, and spectacles, wears a formal dark suit with a white shirt and black tie, holding a cigar in his right hand.

Painted in 1911, Lovis Corinth's Portrait of Dr. Edward Meyer depicts the German historian seated in a dark armchair against a backdrop of densely packed bookshelves. The sitter, distinguished by his beard, mustache, and spectacles, wears a formal dark suit with a white shirt and black tie, holding a cigar in his right hand. Corinth executes the work with his characteristic vigorous brushwork, balancing the academic realism of the late 19th century with the expressive energy of early German Expressionism.

The composition focuses tightly on the upper body, using the vertical lines of the books to frame the figure and emphasize his intellectual stature. The lighting highlights the texture of the face and the fabric of the clothing, while the background remains slightly more abstracted, a hallmark of Corinth's mature style where the physical presence of the subject often merges with the painterly surface. Created during a period when Corinth was a leading figure in the Munich and Berlin art scenes, this portrait reflects his interest in capturing the psychological depth of contemporary intellectuals.

The work stands as a significant example of his portraiture from the second decade of the 20th century, showcasing his ability to convey character through dynamic handling of oil paint.