August Macke (1887 – 1914) was a German Expressionist painter. He was one of the leading members of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) which included Wassily Kandinsky. He lived during a particularly innovative time for German art: he saw the development of the main German Expressionist movements as well as the arrival of the successive avant-garde movements which were forming in the rest of Europe. Like a true artist of his time, Macke knew how to integrate into his painting the elements of the avant-garde which most interested him. Master of brilliant colour, he is principally remembered today for his links with the Munich group of artists who were responsible for producing the “Blue Rider” journal. But he was also, as a painter, not only one of the central figures of that legendary circle of friends, but the moving force behind many of the most significant development in Rhineland art. It is only in recent years that art-lovers have become aware of Macke’s additional gifts as a keen and active draughtsman, through his impressive array of striking sketches. This new collection contains the best of his oils and watercolours and includes, moreover, some of his most important drawings. Macke was killed in combat in WWI at the age of 27.