Moonlit Reflections on the Elbe at Pillnitz

Ernst Max Pietschmann, born on August 6, 1865, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, was a German Symbolist painter known for his powerful, dreamlike works that bridged classical and modern art. Pietschmann trained at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts under Leon Pohle and Ferdinand Pauwels, later immersing himself in the plein air painting movement with the Goppeln artists’ colony near Bannewitz. His studies included a formative period at the Académie Julian in Paris, where he refined his skills in nude drawing and developed his bold Symbolist style.

Pietschmann’s early work, including the monumental *Polyphemus’ Fish Catch*, received critical acclaim in Dresden and was later showcased at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. His achievements earned him further recognition at the 1900 Paris Exposition, solidifying his place in the international art scene. Returning to Dresden, he joined the Visual Artists’ Association and became part of the city’s first Secession movement, marking a pivotal period in his career.

In 1904, Pietschmann settled in a studio house in Niederpoyritz, where he continued creating allegorical and mythological scenes influenced by Symbolists like Max Klinger and Arnold Böcklin. Although untouched by later Expressionist and New Objectivity movements, his work stood strong among Dresden Symbolists like Oskar Zwintscher and Sascha Schneider. Appointed professor at the Dresden Academy in 1909, Pietschmann influenced future generations of artists.

Under the pseudonym *Fr. Laubnitz*, Pietschmann also produced popular mural prints widely admired in the early 20th century. He passed away on April 16, 1952, in Niederpoyritz, Dresden. Today, his artistic and written legacy is preserved in the archives of the Dresden State Art Collections, attesting to his enduring impact on German Symbolism.