Portrait of a Sick Man 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner created this stark woodcut, titled "Portrait of a Sick Man", amidst the tumultuous period of the early 20th century in Germany. Kirchner's personal experiences and beliefs are crucial to understanding this piece. As a member of the Die Brücke movement, Kirchner sought to express raw emotion and psychological states. During World War I, he experienced a mental breakdown. This may be a biographical self-portrait. Look at the man’s hollow eyes, the head wrapped in bandages, and the pipe clutched in trembling hands. Kirchner develops an alternative narrative to the heroic myths of war. Instead, we are confronted with the psychological toll it takes on an individual. The rough cuts of the woodblock amplify the sitter's pain. The portrait captures a sense of vulnerability and the frailty of the human condition. It reflects the widespread disillusionment and trauma experienced by many during this era, resonating with a shared sense of suffering.