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

This woodcut by German Expressionist artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, titled *Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte: Schlemihl in der Einsamkeit des Zimmers* (Peter Schlemihl's Wondrous Story: Schlemihl in the Solitude of His Room) from 1915, depicts the titular character, a man who sold his shadow, in an intense state of isolation and despair. The stark black background, punctuated by bold, angular forms and vibrant colors, creates a mood of psychological anguish. Kirchner's use of woodcut techniques, with its strong lines and bold contrasts, further accentuates the emotional intensity of the image. The haunting image of Schlemihl in his darkened room, grappling with his loss and the overwhelming feeling of being watched, is a poignant commentary on the alienation and despair experienced in modern society.