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Mary Wigman's Dance

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1933

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern Nude

Dominant colour

Mary Wigman's Dance is a 1933 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1933
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows a dancer in mid-motion. Her arms stretch wide, one leg lifted. Black ink covers the wood, leaving sharp white lines behind. It’s a study of movement made from carved wood. The rough edges make it feel urgent, like a snapshot. Kirchner often worked this way. He liked bold shapes and dark colors. Look up the woodcut technique to see how he did it.