Self-portrait c. 1929

Editor: Here we have Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s "Self-Portrait" from around 1929, rendered with chalk and graphite, now residing in the Städel Museum. It feels almost confrontational, yet also vulnerable, like a quick sketch of a raw feeling. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: Well, the thing that leaps out is its immediacy. You can almost feel Kirchner's hand moving across the paper. It's not just a portrait; it's a glimpse into his psyche, wouldn’t you agree? He’s stripping away any pretense, any polish. Do you find the lines, how jagged and fragmented they are, evocative? It feels so intentional, especially considering he did this later in his career, in the 1920s. Editor: Definitely, the lines contribute to the feeling. It’s almost a caricature, exaggerating features to reveal something deeper. Was this common for him at the time? Curator: Precisely! There's an element of caricature, almost brutal honesty, there. Think about the Expressionist movement. It was all about internal experience. After World War One, and experiencing deteriorating health, there was a move away from some earlier optimism to deeper introspection and that can also make its way to what’s on the paper, do you think? He uses line to not just depict but dissect. Editor: It’s fascinating to consider it as a dissection rather than simply a depiction. Seeing his work through that lens changes everything. I came thinking "sketch," but leave thinking, "autopsy!" Curator: Absolutely! And isn’t that the magic of art? It’s not always what you see on the surface but the story it whispers, or sometimes shouts, beneath. It's the artist baring their soul. I'm glad you see it now!