Artwork
Eine Mutter II (A Mother II)
Eine Mutter II (A Mother II) 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, *Eine Mutter II* is a black‑and‑white print by German artist Max Klinger. Executed as an etching combined with drypoint and aquatint on wove paper, the work belongs to Klinger’s prolific period of graphic production in the late nineteenth century. It is catalogued as a print rather than a painting, and its title translates to “A Mother II.”
Subject & Meaning
” The scene juxtaposes intimate maternal care with a lively public space, inviting reflection on domestic responsibility amid urban activity.
The composition centers on a woman perched on a balcony, her body turned toward a child who clings to her. Below them, a bustling riverside unfolds: two men converse near a boat, another figure sits hunched on the dock, and distant buildings are marked by a sign reading “Deutsche Kunst.” The scene juxtaposes intimate maternal care with a lively public space, inviting reflection on domestic responsibility amid urban activity.
Technique & Style
Klinger employed a combination of etching, drypoint, and aquatint to achieve a range of line qualities and tonal variations. Sharp incised lines define the figures and architectural elements, while aquatint washes render the choppy water and atmospheric shadows. This layered approach creates depth and a tactile sense of light, characteristic of late‑nineteenth‑century printmaking practices.
Context
Working at the crossroads of Symbolism, the Vienna Secession, and Jugendstil, Klinger used graphic media to explore narrative and allegorical themes. *Eine Mutter II* reflects his interest in integrating decorative motifs with figurative content, a hallmark of the Secessionist movement’s departure from academic realism. The inclusion of the “Deutsche Kunst” sign also hints at contemporary debates about national artistic identity during a period of rapid cultural change.
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…
