August Robert Ludwig Macke was a prominent member of the artist group Der Blaue Reiter and one of the most well-known German painters of Expressionism. In the many portraits of his early work, he aimed to vividly capture the personality of the depicted individuals. Later, he used small, blurred brushstrokes in his paintings and was also inspired by the Impressionists in his choice of subjects. Macke painted everyday scenes such as his domestic surroundings, gardens, strollers, and animals at the zoo. He was particularly impressed by the French Impressionist Édouard Manet, who continued to influence him even after Macke had long moved beyond the Impressionist style. In the course of 1911, during a stay at Lake Tegernsee, Macke's painting style changed once again under the influence of the French Fauves and German Expressionists. He increasingly oriented himself toward fellow artists Franz Marc, Gabriele Münter, and Henri Matisse. At that time, his works were characterized by bright colors and simplified forms. Spatial depth receded in favor of a flat, two-dimensional effect, and an increasing interest in ornamental elements became evident. During his time with Der Blaue Reiter, Macke experimented with an abstract painting style strongly influenced by Wassily Kandinsky and Franz Marc, but he quickly abandoned it.