Who painted Feelings?

Feelings was painted by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1937.

Where can I see Feelings?

Feelings is held by National Gallery of Art.

Can I buy a print of Feelings?

Museum-quality prints of Feelings are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Feelings

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner , 1937

Feelings is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Feelings is a 1937 woodcut print in black by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a key figure in German Expressionism. The work features five simplified figures in dynamic, angular poses against a flat black background, characterized by bold, scratchy lines and expressive facial features.

Subject & Meaning

The woodcut conveys intense emotional energy through its distorted, overlapping figures, capturing a sense of turmoil or collective anguish. This emotional intensity reflects Kirchner's Expressionist approach, emphasizing inner experience over representational accuracy.

Technique & Style

Executed in bold, scratchy lines reminiscent of woodcarving, the print's dramatic black-and-white contrast heightens its emotional impact. The figures' twisted, overlapping forms and exaggerated facial expressions are hallmarks of Kirchner's expressive style.

History & Provenance

Created in 1937, the same year the Nazi regime condemned Kirchner's work as 'degenerate' and destroyed over 600 of his pieces, 'Feelings' survives as a testament to his enduring practice amidst persecution.

Context

As a founding member of Die Brücke, Kirchner's work, including 'Feelings', contributed significantly to the development of early 20th-century Expressionism, emphasizing emotional depth and distorted forms.

Legacy

'Feelings' represents Kirchner's contribution to Expressionist printmaking, influencing subsequent generations of artists in expressing intense emotional states through bold, abstracted forms.