Marsden Hartley (1877–1943), born in Lewiston, Maine, was an important American modernist painter, poet and essayist. His work is often seen as a bridge between European modernism and American modern art. The National Gallery of Art records his early studies at the Cleveland School of Art and later training in New York. Louisiana likewise describes his long, nomadic career moving between Europe and the United States.

Hartley's style varied widely, making him fascinating but at times difficult for art historians to categorize. He painted landscapes, still lifes, abstract symbols, mountains and coastlines, drawing on Cubism, German Expressionism and American folk art. The Metropolitan Museum notes that he was an important member of Alfred Stieglitz's circle. His practice began with Maine mountain landscapes, followed by many years traveling between Europe and North America.

Among his best-known works are the abstract pieces he created during his Berlin period, such as Portrait of a German Officer. The Met Museum notes that this work combines Cubism, German Expressionism, and the military imagery of wartime Berlin, while also conveying his personal feelings for a Prussian officer, Karl von Freyburg.