Who painted Reclining Nude with Cat?

Reclining Nude with Cat was painted by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1924.

Where can I see Reclining Nude with Cat?

Reclining Nude with Cat is held by National Gallery of Art.

Artwork

Reclining Nude with Cat

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner , 1924

Reclining Nude with Cat is an ink print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1924, *Reclining Nude with Cat* is a color woodcut printed from a folded book prospectus. The German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, a founding member of the Expressionist collective Die Brücke, produced the image as a single‑sheet print that combines figure and animal in a compact, intimate composition.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a nude woman lying in a relaxed pose beside a small cat. The figure’s languid posture and the animal’s calm presence convey a private moment of ease, while the stark, simplified forms invite viewers to focus on the emotional tone rather than narrative detail.

Technique & Style

Kirchner employed the woodcut process, carving the design into wood blocks and printing it in vivid hues. The medium allows for bold, flat areas of color and crisp, linear outlines, hallmarks of his Expressionist approach that prioritize emotional impact over realistic representation.

History & Provenance

Issued as part of a promotional prospectus, the print reflects Kirchner’s post‑World‑War I output, when he turned increasingly to printmaking. The piece remains in the catalogues of his later works and is documented in museum collections that focus on early 20th‑century German Expressionism.