Windswept Firs 1919

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this expressionist woodcut print called "Windswept Firs" using blues, greens, and blacks to create a dramatic scene. I can just imagine the artist getting into it, hacking away at the wood to produce these fierce and angular forms. Those vertical marks read as these trembling trees, surrounded by dense foliage, the landscape feels claustrophobic! Kirchner wasn’t afraid to use bold color combinations and graphic compositions. Look at the way he used those vibrant greens against the deep blues of the sky and shadows. He's really pushing the limits of color and form. Those angular lines, they give everything a sense of energy. It reminds me of the way the German Expressionists tried to convey intense emotional experiences through their work, pushing the boundaries of representation. What do you think he was thinking when he made this? It's like he’s inviting us to experience the power and intensity of nature alongside him, one woodcut at a time.