Artwork
Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte: Die Geliebte (Peter Schlemihl's Wondrous Story: The Beloved)
Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte: Die Geliebte (Peter Schlemihl's Wondrous Story: The Beloved) is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left below image in graphite: Eigendruck; lower right below image in graphite: E L Kirchner; lower center in graphite: 2. Die Geliebte; by later hand, lower right in graphite: Schiefler 266. 1916.; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: 23
About this work
Overview
Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte: Die Geliebte is a 1915 color woodcut on wove paper by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a key figure in the development of German Expressionism.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a nude woman seated in a dimly lit room, with a man standing in the background near a window. The figures' faces are obscured, contributing to a sense of tension in the scene.
Technique & Style
Kirchner employed the woodcut technique, carving the design into wood and printing it to achieve bold, flat areas of color. The resulting work is characterized by its emotional intensity and bold forms, hallmarks of Expressionist art.
History & Provenance
Created during World War I, the print reflects Kirchner's experiences during this period, which included wartime service and a subsequent breakdown. His work was later condemned by the Nazi regime, with many pieces removed in 1937.
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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![Nude Figure [reverse], by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/ernst-ludwig-kirchner--nude-figure-reverse--4b135f0364753e98-w320.webp)
![Two Nudes [obverse], by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/ernst-ludwig-kirchner--two-nudes-obverse--eb3914183f0bc96d-w320.webp)
![Dancing Couple in the Snow [reverse], by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/ernst-ludwig-kirchner--dancing-couple-in-the-snow-reverse--87ca007d7c05b553-w320.webp)
