The Drinker (self-portrait) 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner captured this self-portrait, “The Drinker,” using oil on canvas. Notice the chalice on the table. This symbol of intoxication and revelry, often a feature in ancient bacchanals, transcends its immediate context, appearing throughout art history. Consider its echo in medieval depictions of the Holy Grail, symbolizing spiritual purity. Yet, here, the chalice evokes neither divine communion nor joyful celebration. Look at the artist’s face and the slumped posture: a modern echo of melancholic figures found in classical art, each bearing the weight of their world. The archetype speaks to the enduring human condition, of inner turmoil. Here, it resurfaces as a mirror to the anxieties of the modern era. Thus, Kirchner’s work becomes a poignant document of his time, illustrating how symbols persist, transformed yet resonant, in the vast theater of human experience.