Artwork

Einladung...Ausstellung der Kuenstlergruppe Brücke (Invitation to an Exhibition of the Artists' Group Brücke)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner , 1906

Einladung...Ausstellung der Kuenstlergruppe Brücke (Invitation to an Exhibition of the Artists' Group Brücke) is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Einladung.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left of central image in block: elk; bottom right verso printed in brown ink: Wilh. Guth, Dresden, A., Georgplatz 6b

About this work

Overview

Einladung...Ausstellung der Kuenstlergruppe Brücke is a 1906 color woodcut print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a founding member of the Die Brücke artists' group.

Subject & Meaning

The print is an invitation to a Die Brücke exhibition, featuring a simplified, abstracted image of two figures dancing or embracing, flanked by stylized palm trees, conveying the group's avant-garde spirit.

Technique & Style

The woodcut, printed in brown ink, showcases Kirchner's expressive use of bold black shapes and uneven, hand-cut lettering, giving the poster a raw, DIY aesthetic characteristic of Expressionist printmaking.

History & Provenance

Kirchner's work, including this print, was later impacted by the Nazi regime, which labeled him 'degenerate' and destroyed many of his pieces.

Context

As a member of Die Brücke, Kirchner contributed to the emergence of Expressionism in early 20th-century art, and this print reflects the group's collective goals and innovative approach.