Open full image Pin

Head of van de Velde, Bright (Kopf van de Velde, Hell)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1917

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern Portrait

Dominant colour

Head of van de Velde, Bright (Kopf van de Velde, Hell) is a 1917 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1917
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut portrait depicts a man's head, rendered in bold black lines and geometric shapes. The subject's face is angular, with a prominent nose and chin, and his hair is cropped short. His eyes are cast downward, and his eyebrows are furrowed, giving him a contemplative expression. In the background, there are hints of a landscape, with what appears to be a house or building on the left side of the image. The overall effect is one of stark simplicity, with the bold lines and shapes creating a sense of tension and energy. If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this woodcut, you might want to look up Kirchner, Ernst Ludwig.