1915
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Dead Man (Der tote Mann) is a 1915 ink by Wilhelm Lehmbruck, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a lone, twisted figure lying on its back. The body is stretched out, arms bent awkwardly above the head, legs splayed. The lines are rough and scratchy, like they were made in one quick push of a tool—no smooth shading, just deep grooves. The figure looks like it’s floating, with no clear ground or background. The artist left the edges raw, almost like the image was pulled from a dark void. The title *The Dead Man* fits the stiff, lifeless pose. Next, look up Lehmbruck, Wilhelm to see how his other works play with similar distorted forms.
Wilhelm Lehmbruck (4 January 1881 – 25 March 1919) was a German sculptor. One of the most important of his generation, he was influenced by realism and expressionism.
See the richer artist page
