in 1903 kessler launched the deutscher künstlerbund and became its vice-president. the consortium supported less acknowledged artists including edvard munch, johannes r. becher, detlev von liliencron and the painters of die brücke. in 1906, an exhibition commotion gave reason to depose kessler from his office. an exhibition of drawings at the grand ducal museum by rodin and dedicated, in error, to the grand duke of sax thuringia, was considered as a risk to the wives and daughters of weimar. this was followed by a smear campaign that kessler considered to be an intrigue by aimé charles vincent von palezieux, retired prussian general and court marshall in weimar, but which led to kessler's resignation. palezieux died less than a year later on 10 february 1907 just before receipt of a challenge to a duel from kessler.