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Boy with Cat (Knabe mit Katze)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1919

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Boy with Cat (Knabe mit Katze) is a 1919 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1919
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a boy sitting on the ground with a cat. The boy’s legs are bent, and he holds the cat close to his chest. The background looks rough, almost like a dark, tangled mess. The whole scene is drawn in black and yellow, with sharp, uneven lines. The artist used a printing method that makes the lines look scratchy and raw. This style feels urgent, like the image was made quickly. Next, look up lithography to see how this technique works.