Wilhelm Schmid

• Name — Wilhelm Schmid • Born — 7 February 1892 • Birthplace — Remigen, Switzerland • Died — 20 November 1971 • Place of death — Brè sopra Lugano, Switzerland • Occupation — Painter • Known for — Painting, graphic art, mural painting • Movement — Neue Sachlichkeit, Magic Realism

Wilhelm Schmid was born on 7 February 1892 in Remigen. After training as an architectural draughtsman in Brugg, he worked as an architect in Zürich from June 1911. In 1912, Schmid moved to Berlin, where he worked in architecture offices. Schmid exhibited in Munich and Berlin in 1916 and 1917. In 1918, he married the singer Maria Metz. He was a co-founder of the Novembergruppe, and was a member of the group from 1918 to 1922 and again from 1930 to 1933. He later gave up architecture. From 1924 to 1931, he had a studio in Paris, spending summers mainly in Provence. • Illustration — The tomb of Maria and Wilhelm Schmid in Brè After returning to Berlin and Potsdam, Schmid came under increasing pressure as a so-called “Kulturbolschewist”. In 1937, his art was declared degenerate. In 1938, he left Germany with his Jewish wife and settled in Brè sopra Lugano. He died there on 20 November 1971.

Schmid was largely self-taught as a painter, apart from a course in figure drawing. His artistic training came mainly from close engagement with art. He became known quickly and also had success as a mural painter. His early figure paintings often drew on theatrical scenes. In Luna, formal elements such as static composition, sharply separated areas of colour and bright palette pointed toward Neue Sachlichkeit. Schmid was one of the few Swiss representatives of that movement. His work also drew on Magic Realism. Around 1923 and 1924, he moved away from more ambitious subjects and placed greater emphasis on painting technique. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, he painted figure compositions with billiard players, jazz bands and waiters. His later work in Switzerland consisted mainly of Ticino scenes, landscapes and still lifes.

Schmid’s 1920 painting Luna, also known as Mona Luna or Frau Luna, is held by the Aargauer Kunsthaus. Together with Gelbe Musikanten and Traum des Pierrots, it caused a scandal while bringing Schmid wider attention at the Juryfreie Berliner Ausstellung in 1920. After Schmid was listed among artists labelled “degenerate” in 1937, his works were removed from museums. Some of his major works, including Luna and Madame Dubarry, were brought to Switzerland.