Self-Portrait as an Invalid 1918

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this self-portrait as an invalid in 1917, and what strikes me are the colors, they’re so bold—a sickly green and a vibrant red that feels almost feverish. I can almost feel what it must have been like for Kirchner, stuck in bed, turning inward, wrestling with his own image. The paint is applied so directly, so raw. Look at the way he's used these jagged lines to define his face. The figure seems trapped within the confines of the canvas. His hand gestures are so anxious, so expressive; the lines are sharp and the colors are jarring. It’s like he’s trying to claw his way out. Kirchner was part of the Expressionist movement, and you can see how he was influenced by artists like Munch and Van Gogh, who weren't afraid to use color and brushwork to convey intense emotion. It reminds us that artists aren't just making pretty pictures; they're grappling with the big questions of life and death, sickness and health. This painting is not just a portrait; it’s a window into the artist’s soul.