Artwork
Der Polster (The Cushion)
Der Polster (The Cushion) is an ink print by Max Kurzweil. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Der Polster (The Cushion) is a colour woodcut executed by Max Kurzweil in 1903. The print, made on Japan paper, depicts a solitary figure reclining on a bench, enveloped in a blanket and propped against a large cushion. Light filters through a window with white curtains, illuminating a brick wall and a patterned bench seat, while the floor is rendered in dark wooden planks.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a quiet, intimate moment: a person curled up, seemingly at rest or contemplation, surrounded by simple domestic elements. The juxtaposition of the soft, wrapped figure against the stark brick and the orderly geometry of the bench suggests a contrast between comfort and the surrounding environment, inviting reflection on solitude and personal space.
Technique & Style
Kurzweil employed the woodcut method, carving bold outlines and simplified forms into a wood block before printing onto Japan paper. The limited palette of bright yet restrained colours enhances the flat, graphic quality of the image. The technique emphasizes strong lines and flat areas of colour, producing a calm, orderly visual effect characteristic of early twentieth‑century printmaking.
Context
Created at the turn of the twentieth century, the work aligns with contemporary interests in graphic clarity and the reduction of detail in favor of stylised representation. The use of colour woodcut on Japan paper reflects a broader European engagement with Japanese printmaking techniques, which were admired for their emphasis on line and surface.
Artist & collection
