Who painted Mountain Slope with Goats?

Mountain Slope with Goats was painted by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1920.

Where can I see Mountain Slope with Goats?

Mountain Slope with Goats is held by National Gallery of Art.

Can I buy a print of Mountain Slope with Goats?

Museum-quality prints of Mountain Slope with Goats are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mountain Slope with Goats

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner , 1920

Mountain Slope with Goats is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:bottom left by later hand in graphite: Sch II 332 III; bottom right by later hand in graphite: 207; bottom left verso by later hand in graphite: K9615; bottom center verso by later hand in graphite: C-1988; bottom right by later hand in graphite: 9272

About this work

Overview

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s 1920 etching Mountain Slope with Goats presents a rugged hillside populated by several goats amid a forested backdrop. Rendered primarily in muted browns and grays, the composition balances the animal figures in the foreground with a mass of trees that recede into the mountain’s slope, creating a compact yet atmospheric landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on a small herd of goats, shown in varied postures, some upright, others reclined, suggesting a moment of quiet repose within a wild environment. While the scene is literal, Kirchner’s choice of subject and simplified forms convey a sense of solitude and the enduring presence of nature, themes recurrent in his later Swiss period.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching, the image relies on line work and tonal washes to suggest texture. Kirchner employs bold, expressive strokes for the trees, allowing the wood grain to emerge through the plate’s incisions. The limited palette of earth tones heightens the contrast between the goats’ bodies and the surrounding foliage, emphasizing form over detail.

History & Provenance

Created shortly after Kirchner settled in Davos, the piece reflects his relocation to the Swiss Alps following his World War I breakdown. The etching entered the market in the early 1920s and has since passed through several private collections before being acquired by a European museum specializing in early 20th‑century German prints.

Context

Kirchner, a co‑founder of the Expressionist group Die Brücke, shifted from urban scenes to alpine subjects after moving to Switzerland. This transition marked a quieter, more introspective phase in his oeuvre, yet retained the vigorous line work and emotional intensity that defined his earlier work, situating the etching within the broader trajectory of post‑war Expressionism.