Artwork

Girl with Flowers

Girl with Flowers, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1923
Girl with Flowers, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1923

Girl with Flowers is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Girl with Flowers is a 1923 etching on coated paper by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a German expressionist artist and founding member of Die Brücke.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a girl in a dress, with short hair, standing in a field of flowers and holding some in her hand. Her body language conveys happiness and carefreeness, while the abstracted background and undefined facial features add to the image's emotional intensity.

Technique & Style

The etching technique used here creates a textured, black and white image with expressive lines and scribbles in the background, suggesting movement and energy.

History & Provenance

Created after Kirchner's discharge from military service following a World War I breakdown, this work is part of his later output. Hundreds of Kirchner's works were later confiscated or destroyed by the Nazi regime 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.