Artwork

Dr. Hans Bütow

Dr. Hans Bütow, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1925
Dr. Hans Bütow, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1925

Dr. Hans Bütow is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Dr.

About this work

Overview

Dr. Hans Bütow is a 1925 drypoint print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a key figure in the development of Expressionism and a founding member of Die Brücke.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays Dr. Hans Bütow in profile and three-quarter view, characterized by simple yet expressive features and loose, wavy hair, rendered in a direct and stylized manner.

Technique & Style

Kirchner employed the drypoint technique, scratching into the plate to create fuzzy, layered lines that contribute to the print's textured appearance, with faint background marks adding to its sketchy quality.

History & Provenance

Created in 1925, the work is a product of Kirchner's post-World War I period, following his discharge due to mental health issues, and precedes the Nazi regime's suppression of his work in 1937.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Artist

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (6 May 1880 – 15 June 1938) was a German expressionist painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.