SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Edmund Kesting

The German painter, graphic artist, photographer and art educator Edmund Kesting (1892–1970) developed a practice that brought together several media and explored the organisation of space, matter, light and movement. The GRASSI Museum’s documentation also emphasises the role of perception: the work is not limited to its completed form, but engages the viewer’s gaze. Born in Dresden, he studied painting and sculpture there from 1911 at the School of Applied Arts under Friedrich Erich Kleinhempel, Ermenegildo Antonio Donadini and Richard Guhr, before continuing his training at the Academy of Fine Arts under Richard Müller from 1915. In 1919, he founded the private school Der Weg – Schule für Gestaltung in Dresden; after meeting Herwarth Walden in 1921, he collaborated with Der Sturm and took part in the group’s exhibitions from 1923.

From 1920, Kesting produced Constructivist works and cut-out collages, while also working in oil, watercolour and gouache. Sieben (1922), an early work, brings together a physically articulated pictorial support, relief, applied materials and constructive elements. The work is now on loan in the permanent exhibition of the GRASSI Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Leipzig.

From around 1925, he pursued photography more intensively and experimented with multiple exposure, the photogram and the montage of negatives. He also developed what he called “chemical painting”, working on photosensitive paper with photographic substances, painterly gestures and incisions. His work was shown at the 1. Allgemeine Deutsche Kunstausstellung in Moscow and Leningrad in 1924, and at exhibitions in Moscow, New York and Berlin in 1926. The Museum of Modern Art acquired cut-out collages by the artist.

In 1937, twelve of his works held in public collections were confiscated and subsequently destroyed as part of the Nazi campaign known as “Entartete Kunst”. After the war, Kesting resumed institutional teaching: appointed to the Akademie für Werkkunst in Dresden in 1946, he directed the “Photographie und Film” studio there, then took over the photography class at the Hochschule für Bildende und Angewandte Kunst in Berlin-Weissensee in 1948. In 1955, he was appointed to teach camera work at the Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen in Potsdam-Babelsberg; he retired in 1960. In 1959, the Kunstausstellung Kühl in Dresden presented sixty of his watercolours, made between 1919 and 1943. His publications on photography include Dresden, wie es war, published in Berlin in 1955, and Ein Maler sieht durch’s Objektiv, published in Halle in 1958.

This profile brings together identity references for Edmund Kesting and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

5 references are documented at Schuler. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.

Works recorded at auction

Schuler · Lot 3218

Der Morgen

Mixed media on paper

Original catalogue wording

Der Morgen
Mischtechnik auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2023-03-24

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 1000–1800

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Schuler · Lot 3219

Farbenspiel auf dem Wasserspiegel

Aquarell und Filzstift auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2023-03-24

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 1000–1800

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Schuler · Lot 3332

Untitled

Watercolour and ink on paper

Original catalogue wording

Ohne Titel
Aquarell und Tusche auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2022-12-16

Published result : 2000 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 2000–4000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Schuler · Lot 3333

Der Morgen

Mixed media on paper

Original catalogue wording

Der Morgen
Mischtechnik auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2022-12-16

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 1800–3000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Schuler · Lot 3334

Farbenspiel auf dem Wasserspiegel

Aquarell und Filzstift auf Papier

Catalogue period : 2022-12-16

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 1800–3000

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Sources and references

• Reference record
• LoC · Reference link only; institutional text and images are not reproduced.
• Documentary source

SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19