Thilo Maatsch (1900-1983)

Thilo Maatsch has an epiphany at age 16 when, having been taken to Berlin’s prestigious Avant Garde art gallery Der Sturm, he’s mesmerized by the work of Franz Marc, and determines to be an artist. Eleven years later, he’ll one day recall with pride, his work exhibits there.

Born and raised in 1900 Braunschweig, Germany, Maatsch by age 18 forms "Gesellschaft der Freunde junger Kunst" (Society of Friends of New Art) with Rudolf Jahns and Johannes Molzahn. Its members include soon-to-be-famous Lyonel Feininger, Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky, who promotes Maatsch and becomes something of a father figure. Introductions to collector Otto Ralfs in Braunschweig and the esteemed painter Heinrich Vogel...