Port Scene (Hafenbild)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1908

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

About this work

This print shows two tall figures standing on a ship, surrounded by sharp, jagged lines. The background is full of spiky shapes that look like masts or waves. The whole scene is in black and white, with thick, rough edges that make it feel chaotic. The artist used a carving method to create this image, where ink is pressed into grooves cut into wood. This makes the lines look bold and uneven, almost like a sketch that was scratched into the surface. Look up woodcut to see how this technique works.