Max Koch

Max Friedrich Koch (24 November 1859, Berlin – 18 February 1930, Sacrow, Potsdam) was a German history painter. Later as professor he taught art at the Unterrichtsanstalt des Kunstgewerbemuseums Berlin (Teaching Institute of the Decorative Arts Museum Berlin); head of the academic master's studio for monumental painting, theatrical and decorative painting. Koch not only painted but also explored photography in the late 1800s, publishing two art nude model study works in collotype. These works were posed and published according to artistic and academic criteria. The first, titled Freilicht (Heft I) [Open-Air (Vol. I)], was followed by Der Akt (Heft II) [The Nude (Vol. II)], the latter in collaboration with the architect and sculptor Otto Rieth (1858–1911). Koch's art nudes became known to every artist and art student of that period. As a history painter, he also achieved recognition in wider art circles.