Artwork
Kinderköpfe (Heads of Children)
Kinderköpfe (Heads of Children) is an ink print by Lovis Corinth. It dates from 1914 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right in graphite: Lovis Corinth; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: 162; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: Schw. 162 A
About this work
Overview
Kinderköpfe (Heads of Children) is a black lithograph on laid paper executed by German artist Lovis Corinth in 1914. The work consists of four swiftly rendered child portraits, each reduced to essential lines that convey distinct expressions, a serious gaze, a smile, and two simplified outlines with prominent eyes. Corinth’s signature appears in the lower corner, confirming its authorship.
Subject & Meaning
The print presents a study of youthful faces, capturing fleeting moments of childhood demeanor through minimalist drawing. By isolating the heads and emphasizing expressive features, Corinth explores the individuality of each child while also reflecting his broader interest in portraiture during the early 1910s, a period when he turned toward more personal and emotive subjects.
Technique & Style
Created with lithographic stones, the image relies on black ink applied to a textured laid paper, yielding a grainy surface that accentuates the sketch‑like quality of the lines. The composition aligns with Corinth’s post‑stroke evolution, merging impressionistic looseness with expressionistic vigor; the rapid, almost doodle‑like strokes convey immediacy and emotional directness.
History & Provenance
Following a debilitating stroke in 1911, his style shifted toward a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism, a transition evident in this 1914 print.
Corinth, trained in Paris and Munich, became a leading figure of the Berlin Secession after joining the group. Following a debilitating stroke in 1911, his style shifted toward a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism, a transition evident in this 1914 print. The work remains documented as part of his printmaking output from that period, reflecting his continued engagement with portrait studies.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lovis Corinth (21 July 1858 – 17 July 1925) was a German artist and writer whose mature work as a painter and printmaker realized a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism.
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