Artwork
Rape II (Raub II, Weib halb)
Rape II (Raub II, Weib halb) is an ink print by Wilhelm Lehmbruck. It dates from 1911 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
What stands out is the way the artist carved the image directly into metal, then pressed it onto paper.
This 1911 drypoint shows a nude woman curled on the ground, her arms hugging her knees. The lines are rough and scratchy, like she’s made of jagged shadows. The paper looks old and slightly yellowed at the edges.
What stands out is the way the artist carved the image directly into metal, then pressed it onto paper. That’s called drypoint—a technique where a needle drags across a plate, leaving fuzzy edges. It gives the whole scene a raw, emotional feel.
It’s a tough image to look at. Check out the National Gallery of Art, Washington for more.
Overview
Created in 1911, *Rape II (Raub II, Weib halb)* is a drypoint print on laid paper by German artist Wilhelm Lehmbruck (1881–1919). The work presents a solitary nude figure, rendered in stark, incised lines that emphasize the body's contorted posture and the tension of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a woman curled on the ground, her arms drawn tightly around her knees, conveying a sense of vulnerability and emotional distress. The composition’s starkness and the figure’s closed posture suggest themes of trauma and the fragility of the human condition, resonating with Lehmbruck’s broader interest in expressing inner feeling through the body.
Technique & Style
Lehmbruck employed drypoint, a printmaking method in which a sharp needle scratches lines directly into a metal plate. The resulting burr creates soft, fuzzy edges that appear as jagged shadows on the paper, giving the figure a raw, almost tactile quality. The laid paper’s texture and slight yellowing enhance the work’s aged, somber atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is displayed among other early 20th‑century works. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on representing the development of modern European printmaking and Lehmbruck’s role within that narrative.
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.
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Rape II (Raub II, Weib halb)