Selbstbildnis, holzschneidend 1921

Editor: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s “Self-Portrait, Woodcutting," made in 1921. What a striking, graphic image. The bold black and white contrast is almost jarring, and the angle makes me feel like I’m intruding. I wonder, what's your perspective on this somewhat unnerving self-representation? Curator: Well, that unnerving feeling might be exactly what Kirchner was after. Think about the time; 1921, Germany reeling, Kirchner himself struggling with addiction and PTSD after serving in WWI. It's not just a portrait, it’s a raw exposure of a fractured self. Look at the stark, almost brutal lines, the way his eyes are wide, almost frantic. The woodcut medium lends itself so perfectly to this harshness, don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely. It seems less like a deliberate likeness and more like an…exorcism. Why a woodcut, though? Was that common? Curator: Common enough within Expressionism, which valued directness of feeling over technical polish. Carving that block is a very physical act; imagine Kirchner literally digging into his own psyche, hacking away at the surface to reveal… what? It's like he’s saying, “This is me, stripped bare, flaws and all.” Even the inclusion of sculptures in the background tells a story about the relationship between the artist, his studio, and his process. Don’t you find it intriguing how he frames himself within his own artistic world? Editor: It's fascinating how the process and the subject are so intertwined. Makes you think about the pain and passion that fueled the Expressionist movement. I initially just saw a severe self-portrait, but now, the emotional layers are far more resonant. Thank you. Curator: It’s all about perspective, isn't it? Looking closer lets us truly see!