(b Rottluff, nr. Chemnitz, 1 Dec. 1884; d West Berlin, 10 Aug. 1976). German Expressionist painter, printmaker, and sculptor, born Karl Schmidt (he added ‘Rottluff’ to his name, from his place of birth, in 1906). In 1905 he was one of the founders of Die Brücke. He was the most independent member of the group, taking a limited part in its activities, and his style was harsher than that of the other members. It was particularly forceful in his woodcuts, which are amongst the finest representatives of Expressionist graphic art. In 1906 he stayed with Nolde on the island of Alsten, Norway, and in 1907 he painted with Heckel at Dangast on the coast north-west of Bremen. Apart from landscapes such as the ones he painted in these places, his work included portraits, figure compositions, and still lifes.