Street Corner in Dresden 1909

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made "Street Corner in Dresden," capturing the urban environment of early 20th-century Germany. Kirchner was part of the Expressionist group Die Brücke, who sought to convey emotional experience through art, often responding to the alienation of modern life. In this print, the skeletal trees and stark buildings hint at the psychological impact of urban existence, especially on the individual. Kirchner, like other Expressionists, was deeply affected by the rapid societal changes and the emotional discord they produced. "Art is not there to reflect the reality, but to create one," he once stated, underscoring the movement's aim to transform viewers' perceptions. This work reflects the artist's personal interaction with city life, and evokes both the isolation and the intense emotional experience inherent in the urban landscape. Kirchner doesn't just present a view of Dresden, he offers a commentary on the human condition within it.