Maximilian Reinitz

Maximilian Reinitz (29 October 1872, Vienna – 25 September 1935, Vienna) was an Austrian Cubist painter; associated with the Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) movement.

Biography

He was born to a Hungarian-German family from Fejér County.^[1] His interest in art came relatively late. From 1898 to 1902, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich; initially with the genre painter, Johann Caspar Herterich, then with Johann's brother Ludwig von Herterich, Carl von Marr and the engraver, Peter Halm.^[2]

Upon completing his studies, he traveled throughout the region; visiting Budapest, Dresden and Berlin. He also undertook study trips to Italy and Albania. After 1914, he returned to Vienna and became a member of the Hagenbund.^[2]

Although he was primarily a Cubist painter, he supported most of the modern trends in European art. His showing at the Frühlings-Ausstellung (Spring Exhibition) of 1922 aroused such a torrent of negative reviews from conservative critics that he withdrew from the art community.^[2]

He was apparently riddled with self-doubt and suffered periods of severe depression.^[2] Although he was married twice and had two children,^[1] much of his life was spent in seclusion and little is known about him or his activities, outside of his showings. His works were rediscovered many years after his death.