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Shed on the Bank of the Elbe

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1906

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Shed on the Bank of the Elbe is a 1906 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1906
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a simple scene of two small figures walking near a row of sheds. The buildings have flat roofs and straight lines, with a few trees in the background. The whole image is in black and white, with thick, rough lines that make it look hand-carved. The artist used a technique where they cut shapes into wood and inked them. This gives the print its bold, blocky look. The figures and buildings are very basic, almost like silhouettes. If you like this style, check out more woodcut prints to see how it works.