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Woman with a Veil

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

1915

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Woman with a Veil is a 1915 ink by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
When & what style?: 1915
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a woman wearing a veil that covers her face, leaving only her eyes and mouth visible. The lines are sharp and angular, giving the image a jagged, almost rough look. The background is dark and busy, with bold shapes that push in close around her. The artist used a tool to carve into wood, then printed it onto paper—this is called woodcut. The way the lines press together makes the woman’s face and veil stand out starkly. Next, look up woodcut to see how this technique works.