Sitzende Bäuerin 1922

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner etched ‘Sitzende Bäuerin’ using drypoint, giving it an immediacy, around the time he founded Die Brücke. The composition centers on a seated peasant woman whose figure dominates the foreground, starkly rendered with angular lines. Behind her, jagged mountain peaks and stylized clouds create a compressed space, enhancing the overall tension. The scene is sparse yet evocative, reflecting Kirchner's interest in conveying raw emotion through simplified forms. The artist's approach—evident in the rough textures and distorted perspective—suggests a primal encounter with his subject. This print encapsulates the Expressionist drive to uncover deeper truths through subjective experience. The woman's direct gaze confronts the viewer, inviting a re-evaluation of conventional portraiture. In this moment, Kirchner isn’t just depicting a peasant, but challenging our perception of form and identity.