Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte: Schlemihl in der Einsamkeit des Zimmers (Peter Schlemihl's Wondrous Story: Schlemihl in the Solitude of His Room) 1915

This stark print, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, was made using woodcut, a process closely associated with the German Expressionist movement. A relatively direct method, woodcut involves carving an image into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. Notice the crude quality of the lines. Kirchner doesn’t attempt to disguise the inherent qualities of the material. In fact, he accentuates the texture of the wood grain, and the marks left by his carving tools. This aesthetic reflects the Expressionists’ broader interest in non-Western art forms, particularly those considered “primitive.” Beyond its formal qualities, the print’s social context is also significant. Kirchner made this image in 1916, during World War I. The protagonist, Schlemihl, is trapped in a claustrophobic interior. The angular, jagged lines and dark palette evoke a sense of anxiety and alienation. The intensity of feeling is heightened by the labor-intensive nature of the woodcut process. In this way, Kirchner transforms a traditional craft into a powerful expression of modern angst.