Heidenstamm I 1918

Max Pechstein made 'Heidenstamm I' in 1918 using drypoint, a printmaking technique where a sharp needle scratches directly into a metal plate. This approach to mark-making really highlights how art is a process. Pechstein leaves the marks raw and unrefined, which gives it a visceral feel. The surface is alive with scratching, creating a kind of edgy energy. Look at the way the lines swarm around the seated figure, almost trapping him. Is he longing for the exotic scene above, or is he stuck in a kind of interior world? The cross looming in the background adds another layer to this tension. I'm reminded of Kirchner's prints, both artists use the medium to express something raw and unpolished about modern life. Ultimately, this print embraces ambiguity. There’s no single story, just a collection of feelings and impressions, rendered with a kind of restless energy.