Jakob Becker

Becker is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. He broke with the lofty attitude of much Biblical historical painting in the Städel creating his profane scenes. As the first professor of landscape and genre painting, he sought his subjects in the countryside and was especially interested in the social problems of the peasantry. He used much realistic detail and emotional gesture. One of his best-known works was Praying Peasant Family.

He was also open to French influences. In 1858 he offered to share his studio with Gustave Courbet and – despite having to endure some rudeness from the French artist – Becker accepted some of his stylistic influences.

Becker taught successfully at the academy for thirty years. Some of his pupils were to form the Kronberg Painters' Colony one generation later.

Becker died in Frankfurt am Main on 22 December 1872.

• List of German painters

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jakob Becker.

• Wolfgang Metternich: Jakob Becker, der Lehrer der Kronberger Maler (Jakob Becker, teacher of the Kronberg painters). Museumsgesellschaft Kronberg e.V. Frankfurt am Main. Kramer Verlag, 1991
• Wolfgang Metternich: Der Maler Jakob Becker. Ein Frankfurter Lehrer und Wegbereiter im 19. Jahrhundert (The painter Jakob Becker. A teacher of Frankfurt and 19th-century pioneer). Exhibition at the corporate museum of Hoechst AG at Höchster Schloss, 17 March 1985 to 20 April 1985. Hoechst AG, Frankfurt a. M., 1985
• Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Becker, Jakob" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.