Artwork
Harmonica Player
Harmonica Player is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by later hand, lower left in graphite: Sch II 389 II; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: [?]145b / 1084; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: 237
About this work
Overview
Harmonica Player is a 1919 lithograph by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a German Expressionist artist and founding member of the Die Brücke group.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a musician absorbed in playing a harmonica, his face visible beneath a hat. The scene captures a moment in time, conveying the player's intensity and focus.
Technique & Style
Rendered in bold red and deep violet tones on blotting paper, the lithograph showcases Kirchner's expressive use of color and line. The contrast between the dark tones and the light background heightens the image's emotional impact.
History & Provenance
Created in 1919, Harmonica Player reflects Kirchner's involvement with Die Brücke, a key group in the development of Expressionism.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (6 May 1880 – 15 June 1938) was a German expressionist painter and printmaker.
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