Schlemihls Begegnung mit dem Schatten 1915

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this woodcut, "Schlemihl's Encounter with his Shadow", using blocks of colour and stark lines. The process of woodcut printing involves carving away parts of a block, and then inking and printing the remaining surface, so it's all about making choices and cutting away. Look at the bold colors and how they clash. Kirchner uses this tension to create a feeling of unease. The red streaks cutting through the blue figure and the dark shadow looming over the scene amplify this sensation. It reminds me of some of the raw, emotional energy I try to get in my own paintings. The shadow is so present it's almost like a second character, a doppelganger. This print reminds me of Edvard Munch, who also explored themes of anxiety and the darker aspects of the human condition. Art is a conversation, right? We respond, react, and reinterpret. There's always room for multiple readings.