Doris Schmitz

Doris Schmitz — Figurative Art and Fashion Illustration

Doris Schmitz is a German figurative artist and fashion illustrator whose expressive linework draws on a rich lineage of European art movements. Trained at Bauhaus art colleges in Berlin and Braunschweig, and later at the Royal College of Art in London, her work reflects influences from Expressionism, Dadaism, Constructivism, Art Nouveau, and the Vienna Secession. This is not academic pastiche — Schmitz absorbs these traditions and channels them into something unmistakably contemporary.

Her art centres on the human figure and the elegance of fabric, texture, and sculptural garments. Pieces like Soulful demonstrate her signature approach: confident, fluid lines that capture gesture and movement in a single stroke, with passages of rich colour that anchor the composition without constraining it. The fashion illustration background is visible in how she handles draping, silhouette, and the relationship between body and clothing — but the work transcends illustration, carrying the emotional weight and visual complexity of fine art.

Schmitz has collaborated internationally with leading fashion houses — including Max Mara, Lanvin, Nina Ricci, Martin Margiela, and Burberry. Her work was recently acquired by New York's iconic Waldorf Astoria, placing her drawing practice in the context of major institutional collections. The breadth of these collaborations speaks to the versatility of her visual language: precise enough for fashion, expressive enough for gallery walls.

Choosing Between Paper and Canvas

Fine art paper is the natural home for Schmitz's linework — the smooth 225g matte surface captures every gesture, every variation in line weight and ink density with precision. The clean surface lets her confident, fluid marks speak directly, without the interference of texture. Paper prints are available in A3, 50x70cm, 70x100cm, and A0, framed in oak, black, or walnut brown. Black frames create a striking contrast with her expressive figurative work.

Canvas adds a different dimension — the 400g cotton surface introduces warmth and tactile depth that suits the more painterly passages in her work. Where the compositions move beyond line into broader areas of colour and texture, the woven surface enriches the result. Canvas prints come in 30x40cm, 50x70cm, and 70x100cm, with an optional floating frame.

Related Collections

Schmitz's figurative work connects naturally to our contemporary artists programme and sits well alongside other expressive figure-based work in our portrait prints collection. For more drawing-led art, browse our design and illustration prints. Her fashion-influenced compositions also pair well with the graphic elegance of vintage poster art.

All prints are produced in our Berlin studio using archival pigment inks rated for 100+ years.