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The Visit

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1923

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern Interior

Dominant colour

The Visit is a 1923 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1923
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows three people in a plain room with a wooden floor and walls. The person on the left sits in a chair, holding something like a fan or scroll. The middle figure stands, half-turned toward the seated person, with one hand resting on a small table. The person on the right leans forward, also holding an object. The background has simple shapes—maybe shelves or a door—and the whole scene feels stiff and quiet. The yellow paper makes the black lines stand out sharply. The artist used bold, clean cuts to create the shapes, giving it a flat, graphic look. This style hides any softness or shadow, making everything look direct and unpolished. Next, check out how this woodcut technique works.