Artwork
Mutter und Kind (Mother and Child)
Mutter und Kind (Mother and Child) is an ink print by Wilhelm Lehmbruck. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1910, *Mutter und Kind* is a drypoint print by German artist Wilhelm Lehmbruck. The work presents a seated mother cradling her infant, the child’s head resting against the mother’s shoulder while her hand supports the child’s back. The scene is rendered with a quiet, contemplative atmosphere, emphasizing the close physical and emotional bond between the figures.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the intimate exchange between mother and child, portraying the mother with closed eyes and a serene expression that suggests a moment of protective calm. By isolating the pair from any surrounding context, Lehmbruck highlights themes of nurturing, familial closeness, and the universal experience of maternal care.
Technique & Style
Executed in drypoint, the print relies on incised lines that retain a soft, velvety quality, allowing subtle gradations of tone and depth. Lehmbruck’s handling of line merges realist attention to form with expressionist sensitivity to mood, using the medium’s inherent texture to convey both the physical presence of the bodies and the emotional resonance of the scene.
History & Provenance
Lehmbruck, primarily known as a sculptor, explored two-dimensional media early in his career, and this 1910 print reflects his interest in the human figure during that period. The work aligns with his broader investigations of motherhood and family, subjects that recur throughout his oeuvre, and it remains documented in several European print collections.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Wilhelm Lehmbruck (4 January 1881 – 25 March 1919) was a German sculptor. One of the most important of his generation, he was influenced by realism and expressionism.
