Klemperer at the piano c. 1915

"Klemperer at the Piano" (c. 1915) by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is a dynamic and expressive depiction of the German conductor Otto Klemperer playing the piano. This ink drawing, housed in the Städel Museum, is a powerful example of Kirchner's signature style, characterized by angular lines, bold strokes, and a sense of urgency. The artist's use of simplified forms and gestural lines captures the energy and intensity of Klemperer's performance, creating a sense of movement and immediacy. Kirchner's work is often associated with the Expressionist movement, which sought to express inner emotions and subjective experiences through art.