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Windmill near Burg on Fehmarn

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1908

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Windmill near Burg on Fehmarn is a 1908 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1908
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a windmill standing alone in a flat, open field. The sky is full of thick, dark clouds that look heavy and stormy. The windmill’s blades are blurred, as if caught in motion, and the ground below is rough with quick, sketchy lines. The artist used a printing method that keeps the lines rough and the colors simple—just black and a pale background. This makes the scene feel raw and quick, like a sketch made fast. Next, look up lithography to see how this printing technique works.