Artwork

Mountain Stream with Bathers

Mountain Stream with Bathers, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1934
Mountain Stream with Bathers, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, ink, 1934

Mountain Stream with Bathers is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1934 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Mountain Stream with Bathers is an etching created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1934. The work is characteristic of Kirchner's printmaking style and his association with the Expressionist movement.

Subject & Meaning

The etching depicts a scene of nude figures in a mountainous landscape, with two individuals situated by a rocky stream. The composition suggests a natural, idyllic setting, with the figures integrated into the surroundings.

Technique & Style

The work features scratchy, uneven lines and rapid, gestural marks, evoking a sense of spontaneity. The use of etching techniques, involving acid and metal plates, allows for the expressive rendering of textures and forms, such as the tangled background foliage.

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.