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Head of Frau Bauer

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1927

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern Portrait

Dominant colour

Head of Frau Bauer is a 1927 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1927
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a face with wild, tangled hair and sharp, dark lines. The eyes stare straight ahead, but the mouth is covered by a hand or cloth. The background is just more loose, scratchy marks—no clear shapes, just texture. The artist used a printing method called drypoint, which lets ink sit in the grooves of the metal plate. That’s why the lines look rough and uneven, almost like scribbles. Next, check out Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig to see how he used similar styles in other works.