Dance Group of the Mary Wigman School in Dresden 1926

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this drawing, using pencil, of the Dance Group of the Mary Wigman School, we don't know exactly when. There's a real sense of immediacy here, isn't there? Kirchner's captured the energy of the dancers with these quick, searching lines. Look how the figures overlap, creating this layered effect. You can almost feel the movement, the rhythm of the dance, in those marks. The blue highlights in the faces suggest an inner world of expression. The paper's warm tone gives a grounded quality, a contrast to the figures ethereal presence. The lines are raw, unpolished, inviting us into Kirchner's process. It reminds me of Degas' drawings of dancers, but with a wilder, more expressive edge. Kirchner's not just showing us the dance, he's giving us an experience. It's like he's saying, "Here's a moment, a feeling, caught in the act." Art isn't about perfection, but about exploration, and this piece embodies that beautifully.