Winter Landscape in Moonlight 1919

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this vibrant landscape using woodcut, a relief printing technique. The image is carved into a block of wood, and then ink is applied to the remaining raised surface. Paper is pressed against the block to transfer the image. The strong contrast between the cut-away areas and the inked surfaces gives the print its bold graphic quality. You can see this in the jagged edges of the mountains and trees. Kirchner’s expressionist style meant he wasn’t interested in naturalistic representation. Instead, he used the medium to create an emotional impact through simplified forms and intense colors. Woodcut is an age-old method, traditionally associated with folk art. Its resurgence in the early 20th century was part of a wider interest in so-called ‘primitive’ techniques, offering a directness and intensity that aligned with the era’s avant-garde movements. Recognizing woodcut elevates its status, blurring boundaries between craft and fine art. Kirchner shows us that the perceived value of an artwork lies not just in the image, but also in the material and process behind it.