ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Paula Modersohn-Becker's Reclining Mother and Child II at Kunsthalle Bremen

artist · 2026-05-10

Paula Modersohn-Becker's impactful 1906 artwork, "Reclining Mother and Child II," can be viewed at the Kunsthalle Bremen in Germany. The painting depicts a mother embracing her child, emphasizing intimate themes of maternal love without any distracting elements. As an early figure in Expressionism, Modersohn-Becker frequently portrayed local children in her work. Despite her artistic prowess, she only sold three pieces during her lifetime and was a pioneering female artist in nude self-portraiture. She tragically passed away from an embolism shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Mathilde, on November 20, 1907, at the age of 31.

Key facts

  • Paula Modersohn-Becker painted Reclining Mother and Child II in 1906.
  • The painting is held at Kunsthalle Bremen in Bremen, Germany.
  • Modersohn-Becker was a German early Expressionist.
  • She sold only three paintings in her lifetime.
  • She was the first female painter to experiment with nude self-portraits.
  • She gave birth to daughter Mathilde on 2 November 1907.
  • She died of a fatal embolism on 20 November 1907.
  • Her last words were 'What a pity.'

Entities

Artists

  • Paula Modersohn-Becker

Institutions

  • Kunsthalle Bremen
  • Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
  • Museum Kunstpalast
  • Artland

Locations

  • Bremen
  • Germany
  • The Hague
  • Netherlands
  • Düsseldorf

Sources