Head of a Young Girl (Madchenkopf) 1919

Erich Heckel made this print, Head of a Young Girl, using stark black lines on white paper. With an approach that's all about the process, each mark feels immediate, like a response to the last. Looking closely, you can see how Heckel doesn't fuss over details. The lines are wiry, almost nervous, creating a surface that's alive with energy. The way he carves out her face with these sharp, angular lines reminds me that printmaking is just as much about what you take away as what you leave behind. That slash on her cheek? It’s like a crack in her composure, or maybe a reminder that even beauty has its sharp edges. Heckel's work has that Expressionist edge. Like Kirchner and the other Die Brücke artists, he's pushing past surface appearances. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation.