Wehrlin, Facing front 1924

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this woodcut portrait called Wehrlin, Facing Front sometime during his career, cutting directly into the woodblock, resulting in stark contrasts and bold, angular shapes. You can tell that Kirchner went at it with real zeal, right? The way the lines and shapes define the face has so much energy. I see the influence of German Expressionism here, that raw, emotional intensity. I wonder if Kirchner knew Wehrlin personally? I imagine him staring intently at his subject, trying to capture not just his likeness, but also something deeper, something about his inner life. The eyes especially seem to be searching, questioning. Thinking about Kirchner's process, I realize, that art isn't just about what we see, but how we see. Artists learn from each other across time, sparking new ideas and ways of expressing themselves, like a secret language that evolves with each new voice.