Artwork
Eine Mutter III (A Mother III)
Eine Mutter III (A Mother III) 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
The monochrome image depicts a dimly lit interior where six figures gather around a cluttered table, illuminated by a multi‑armed chandelier.
Created in 1883, *Eine Mutter III* is an etching on wove paper by German artist Max Klinger. The monochrome image depicts a dimly lit interior where six figures gather around a cluttered table, illuminated by a multi‑armed chandelier. Light and shadow are rendered through delicate shading, giving the scene a palpable sense of presence. The work forms part of Klinger’s larger series titled *Eine Mutter*.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a domestic setting in which the participants—one standing, the others seated—are absorbed in papers, ink bottles, and books. The arrangement suggests a collaborative or scholarly activity, while the subdued lighting and close proximity of the figures convey an intimate, perhaps contemplative, atmosphere. The title’s reference to “a mother” invites interpretations of nurturing or guidance within the gathered group.
Technique & Style
Klinger employed traditional intaglio etching, incising lines into a metal plate before printing onto wove paper. The artist’s control of hatching and cross‑hatching creates nuanced tonal gradations, emphasizing the interplay of illumination from the chandelier with the surrounding darkness. The print reflects Symbolist sensibilities and anticipates the decorative currents of Jugendstil, integrating fine graphic detail with a mood‑laden narrative.
History & Provenance
*Eine Mutter III* belongs to the later phase of Klinger’s career, during which he devoted significant effort to printmaking as a counterpart to his painting and sculpture. The work was produced amid his involvement with the Vienna Secession and the broader German Art Nouveau movement. It has been exhibited in several retrospectives of Klinger’s oeuvre and remains in the collection of a major European museum.
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…
