"I feel that the time will soon come when I no longer have to be ashamed and remain silent, but can be proud to be a painter."

Paula Modersohn-Becker (1876–1907) is regarded today as one of the most significant pioneers of artistic modernism around 1900 and a key figure in the ›Worpsweder Künstlerkolonie‹. As one of the first women to deeply explore self-representation and the role of women in art, she left behind approximately 750 paintings and 1,000 drawings during her short life.

Paula Modersohn-Becker's paintings reflect her profound connection to the people and nature of Worpswede. She approached rural life with extraordinary intimacy and intensity, creating works with a distinct personal power. Her portraits—especially those of women and children from the region—are particularly renowned for capturing the dignity and individual presence of her subjects. Her powerful yet sensitive painting style imbues her work with a unique vibrancy and depth. By focusing on authentic, unadorned moments of life, she developed a distinctive artistic signature that continues to resonate.

Her artistic growth was significantly influenced by her stays in Paris, where she engaged with modern art movements and developed an aesthetic foreshadowing Expressionism. Modersohn-Becker is especially known for her self-portraits, which convey both vulnerability and strength, reflecting an intense exploration of her identity. Her marriage to painter Otto Modersohn was complex, and in 1906, she considered divorce to devote herself more fully to her art. This decision underscores her extraordinary dedication to her craft, highlighting the existential challenges and decisions faced by women artists of her time. Paula Modersohn-Becker tragically passed away at just 31 years old, shortly after giving birth to her first child, yet her work leaves a lasting impact and continues to inspire artists and audiences around the world.