The missionary 1912

"The Missionary" by Emil Nolde (1912) is a painting that explores the artist's interest in primitivism, often inspired by his travels to Africa and Oceania. This painting shows a missionary figure with a red mask-like face and a white robe, standing beside a seated woman with a child. The vibrant colors and simplified forms are characteristic of Nolde's Expressionist style, known for its emotional intensity and bold brushstrokes. The painting's subject matter and visual language suggest a commentary on the encounter between Western culture and indigenous populations.