Davoser Landschaft mit Bergbauern 1919

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner rendered this landscape of Davos and its farmers with watercolor in thin washes of blues, greens, and oranges. Kirchner, a German expressionist, sought refuge in the Swiss Alps after suffering a mental breakdown due to his experiences in the First World War. The landscape of Davos was more than just a place of recovery for Kirchner; it offered a connection to a simpler, more authentic way of life, far removed from the alienation of urban, industrialized society. The local farmers became a central motif, embodying a sense of primal connection to the land. Kirchner saw in them an antidote to what he perceived as the corrupting influences of modernity. Consider how Kirchner, as an outsider, exoticized the farmers and the Swiss landscape. What does it mean when an artist seeks refuge in a culture that is not his own? This artwork prompts us to reflect on the complexities of seeking solace in the ‘other,’ and the dynamics of cultural representation.