Kinder Transport 1999

Glenn Brown’s “Kinder Transport” (1999) is a disturbing and unsettling painting of a human figure rendered in thick, impasto paint. The subject appears to be a woman, with features distorted by thick, swirling brushstrokes. This abstract depiction evokes a sense of unease, prompting viewers to contemplate the emotional weight of the subject. This style of figurative painting is reminiscent of the work of Francis Bacon, whose distorted figures often reflected the trauma and anxieties of the 20th century. The title, "Kinder Transport," refers to the rescue efforts that saved thousands of Jewish children from Nazi persecution in Germany during World War II. The work likely reflects the artist's own concerns about the human cost of war and the vulnerability of innocent life.