Die Hembusse 1931

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner created this etching titled ‘Die Hembusse’. Kirchner, as a member of the German Expressionist group Die Brücke, sought to convey raw emotion through his art. The print likely depicts two women, their faces drawn with bold, stark lines. This aesthetic was radical in its departure from traditional, academic portrayals of women. Instead, it aimed to capture the psychological intensity of modern urban life in pre-war Germany. Consider how the artist presents gender. The women appear self-assured, potentially challenging the passive roles often assigned to them. The term “Hembusse” is slang for lesbians. Kirchner was interested in representing marginalized communities. Perhaps he wished to represent the growing visibility and assertiveness of queer identities in the early 20th century. The artwork offers us a window into a period of social change. It asks us to consider how identities are formed and represented in times of cultural upheaval.