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English Step Dancers

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1911

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

English Step Dancers is a 1911 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1911
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows two women walking side by side, arms linked, in simple dresses. Their faces are plain but expressive, with one looking ahead and the other slightly turned. The background is flat and stylized—green trees, a yellow wall, and a striped barrel. Bold black lines define their shapes, while pink and yellow blocks of color fill in their clothing. The artist used a printing method called woodcut, where blocks of wood are carved and inked to create the image. The rough edges and bold colors make it feel lively, almost like a sketch come to life. Check out woodcut to see how this technique works.