Dominik Schmitt is known for his absorbing academic portraits of introspection dominated by a dark, almost grim atmosphere. Schmitt’s visual language is indebted to Gustave Courbet, El Greco, and Jonathan Meese; his characters come from both real life and art historical references. “To be an artist ,” he has said, “means to be authentic and honest, to only take up artistically that which preoccupies the artist personally.” The artist subjects are not sourced but rather stem from a vague basic idea about the feeling the picture should ultimately convey. Thus there are no preliminary sketches or underdrawings. Recently Schmitt began to lighten his palate using lush primary hues and sensual pastels.