White Cow

Kirchner employs broad, gestural strokes and a saturated mix of pink, yellow, green and blue hues, recalling both Expressionist intensity and Fauvist colour freedom. The cow’s body is reduced to geometric planes and bold outlines, while the surrounding landscape is suggested through warm yellow fields and muted blues, creating a sense of rhythmic energy across the surface.

Created shortly after Kirchner’s return to Germany following World War I, the painting reflects his renewed engagement with German modernism. It entered the Hamburger Kunsthalle’s holdings in the mid‑20th century, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s representation of early 20th‑century German expressionist painting.