Railroad Viaduct (Die Eisenbahnbrücke) 1919

"Railroad Viaduct" (1919) by Lyonel Feininger is a striking example of German Expressionism. The woodcut depicts a stylized cityscape with a towering viaduct, a bustling scene beneath, and a towering figure in the foreground. The artist’s use of bold lines and stark contrasts between black and white creates a sense of dynamism and tension, characteristic of Expressionism. The simplified forms and angular lines further accentuate the emotional impact of the artwork. The composition, with its focus on the imposing viaduct and the towering figure, emphasizes the growing influence of technology and industrialization on modern life. The work also showcases Feininger's distinctive style, characterized by the use of geometric shapes and bold lines, which he would further develop in his later works.