Schlemihl in der Einsamkeit des Zimmers 1915

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner made this woodcut, Schlemihl in der Einsamkeit des Zimmers, using blocks of colour to build up the image, a process not unlike how I approach a painting, with its veils and layers. The colours here are so evocative, the sickly yellow-brown of the figure, set against stark black and the sharp blue of the room. He looks trapped, lost in thought, the angles of the furniture mirroring his own gaunt form. You can almost feel the rough texture of the wood in the lines of the print, Kirchner doesn’t try to hide the process. Look at the way the black ink bleeds slightly around the edges, it adds to the raw, emotional quality of the piece. There’s a real sense of tension here, a feeling of unease. I’m reminded a little of Edvard Munch, especially in the way Kirchner uses colour to convey psychological states. These guys weren't afraid to dive deep into the darkness, were they? Art isn't always about answers; sometimes, it's just about feeling.