Lesender Knabe c. 1921

"Lesender Knabe" (Reading Boy), a charcoal drawing by German Expressionist artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938), portrays a young man lost in the act of reading. The gestural lines and angular forms, characteristic of Kirchner's style, create a sense of dynamism and immediacy. The simplified features and bold contours accentuate the emotional intensity of the subject, capturing the profound impact of the written word. This powerful portrayal of a solitary reader exemplifies Kirchner's exploration of modern life and the individual's experience within it. The artwork is currently housed in the Städel Museum.