Open full image Pin

Conversation

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1929

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Conversation is a 1929 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1929
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows three figures in a tight, awkward group. One person leans in close, hand near their mouth, while another sits with their arms crossed. The third figure stands apart, looking down at their hands. The background is simple, with a chair and a window showing a dark shape outside. The lines are sharp and angular, almost like a sketch. The artist used only black ink on a light background, making the figures stand out clearly. Next, look up woodcut to see how this printmaking technique works.