Artwork
Germany's Children are Hungry! (Deutschlands Kinder Hungern!)
Germany's Children are Hungry! (Deutschlands Kinder Hungern!) is an ink print by Käthe Kollwitz. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Germany's Children are Hungry!
About this work
Overview
Germany's Children are Hungry! is a 1924 lithograph by Käthe Kollwitz, depicting the plight of impoverished children during a period of widespread hunger in Germany.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows two emaciated children with empty bowls, conveying the devastating effects of poverty and hunger on the working class, a theme central to Kollwitz's oeuvre.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work features rough lines and expressive shadows, characteristic of Kollwitz's later Expressionist-influenced style, which emphasized emotional intensity over realism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1924, during a time of economic hardship in Germany, the work's provenance details are not specified, though it aligns with Kollwitz's notable cycles on social hardship.
Context
This piece reflects the post-World War I era in Germany, marked by economic crisis and widespread poverty, themes Kollwitz was known to address through her art, alongside her advocacy for social justice.
Legacy
As part of Kollwitz's body of work focusing on social injustices, *Germany's Children are Hungry!* contributes to her legacy as a pioneering female artist and a vocal critic of societal ills through her art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Käthe Kollwitz (German pronunciation: born Schmidt; 8 July 1867 – 22 April 1945) was a German artist who worked with painting, printmaking (including etching, lithography and woodcuts) and sculpture.
