Annette Kolb 1926

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner rendered this portrait of Annette Kolb using stark black ink and a woodblock. I can imagine Kirchner grappling with the wood, carving away to reveal Kolb’s features. The intensity of the black ink gives the portrait a bold, almost confrontational quality, wouldn’t you agree? The sharp, angular lines that define Kolb’s face and hat give her an edgy look, but those lips, slightly pursed, hint at something softer, maybe even vulnerable. There’s a real push and pull, a kind of tension that makes you want to know more about her. It reminds me of the way the German Expressionists used distortion to convey intense emotion. You see this too in the work of painters like Emil Nolde and Erich Heckel. Artists are always in conversation, picking up on each other's vibes! Kirchner's work feels like a vibrant, living thing.