Who painted Child's Funeral in Russia?

Child's Funeral in Russia was painted by Ernst Barlach in 1906.

Where can I see Child's Funeral in Russia?

Child's Funeral in Russia is held by National Gallery of Art.

Artwork

Child's Funeral in Russia

Ernst Barlach , 1906

Child's Funeral in Russia is an ink drawing by Ernst Barlach. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in graphite: EBarlach; label inscribed by artist center verso in black ink: 1 / ((in German) Russian burial) / EBarlach

About this work

Overview

Ernst Barlach’s 1906 drawing Child’s Funeral in Russia is executed in pen and black ink over a graphite base. The composition depicts three figures bearing a coffin across a muddy terrain beneath a lightly clouded sky, with a distant village and a few passersby visible in the background.

Subject & Meaning

The work portrays a somber funeral procession, emphasizing the physical strain of the carriers and the weight of loss. The quiet, heavy atmosphere conveys a sense of collective mourning, reflecting the broader human cost of conflict that would later become central to Barlach’s anti‑war stance.

Technique & Style

Barlach employs rapid, sketchy lines and cross‑hatching to model form and generate shadow, creating a stark tonal contrast without color. The drawing merges realistic detail, such as the mud‑splattered ground and the architecture of the village, with expressionistic exaggeration of the figures’ fatigue, illustrating his early synthesis of Realism and Expressionism.

History & Provenance

Created before Barlach’s direct experience of World War I, the drawing anticipates his later shift from initial support of war to outspoken protest. It remains a representative example of his early graphic work, documenting his evolving perspective on the human consequences of armed conflict.