Born in Krefeld, Germany, Heinrich Campendonk studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in his hometown under Jan Thorn Prikker. He later moved to the Bavarian Alps, where he became a key figure in the Der Blaue Reiter circle, developing a distinctive style characterized by vibrant color palettes and stylized, often folk-inspired, figurative subjects.

His work frequently explores themes of rural life, animals, and mystical landscapes, executed through a blend of Expressionist intensity and Cubist structural influence. He worked across various media, including oil painting, stained glass, and woodcut prints, often utilizing fragmented forms to create rhythmic, decorative compositions.

Following his emigration to the Netherlands in the 1930s, Campendonk became a professor at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. His historical significance is underscored by his inclusion in major institutional surveys, such as the Stedelijk Museum's 'Yesterday Today' exhibition, which contextualizes his contributions within the broader evolution of European modernism.