Artwork
Ein Mord (A Murder)
Ein Mord (A Murder) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Max Klinger. It dates from 1883 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1883, *Ein Mord* (A Murder) is a black‑and‑white print by German artist Max Klinger. Executed with a combination of etching, drypoint, and aquatint on wove paper, the work presents a bustling railway station where a woman lies collapsed on the platform amid a crowd of winter‑clad figures, while a locomotive and bridge loom in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of crisis: the fallen woman draws the attention of onlookers who react with a mixture of alarm, assistance, and stunned observation. Klinger’s arrangement of gestures and the stark contrast between movement and stillness suggest a narrative of sudden violence or tragedy, inviting viewers to contemplate the social and emotional impact of public disaster.
Technique & Style
Klinger employed the precise incising of drypoint for the sharp outlines of figures and architectural elements, while aquatint provided broad tonal areas that deepen shadows and create atmospheric depth. The interplay of etched lines and richly graded washes produces a dramatic chiaroscuro, emphasizing the urgency of the scene and aligning the work with Symbolist interests in mood and psychological tension.
Context
Working at the intersection of Symbolism, the Vienna Secession, and Jugendstil, Klinger treated printmaking as an autonomous expressive medium. *Ein Mord* exemplifies his engagement with narrative-driven graphics during a period when European artists were exploring new visual vocabularies for modern life, influencing subsequent generations of illustrators and printmakers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Max Klinger (18 February 1857 – 5 July 1920) was a German artist who produced significant work in painting, sculpture, prints and graphics, as well as writing a treatise articulating his ideas on art and the role of…
