Ludwig Schames Frankfurt a M Grafik E L Kirchner (Ludwig Schames Frankfurt a M Graphic Art E L Kirchner) 1919 - 1920

This is Ludwig Schames Frankfurt a M Grafik E L Kirchner, a print by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. The cover is a woodcut, so it's all about carving away to find the image, like a sculptor chipping away at stone. See how the design feels raw, almost jagged? It's Kirchner embracing the blocky nature of the medium. I love how he uses black and white to create drama – it's not just contrast; it's like a shout. There's a figure with what looks like a walking stick. The lines around the figure are frenetic, like the world is closing in. You feel the artist's hand so directly here, each mark a deliberate choice. I feel a real sense of unease from this piece. Kirchner's work, like that of Munch, explores the darker sides of human experience, but with a graphic punch that's all his own. It's a reminder that art can be unsettling, and that's often where its power lies.