Man's Head. Self-portrait 1926

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s ‘Man’s Head. Self-portrait’ is a woodcut print that captures the artist's likeness alongside a spectral figure in the background. The stark, angular lines and raw emotionality evoke the unease and alienation characteristic of Expressionism. Note the duality of Kirchner's self-image and the shadowy figure; it brings to mind ancient depictions of the 'doppelganger,' or double, which has roots in folklore and mythology. Think of how this symbol appears in Romantic literature and even Freudian psychoanalysis, where the double represents the repressed aspects of the self. The emotional intensity of the image—conveyed through the artist's piercing gaze and the unsettling presence of the figure behind him—connects to the broader theme of existential angst that resurfaces time and again in art history. This raw, primal emotion creates a psychological depth, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. We are drawn into Kirchner’s inner turmoil, experiencing a flicker of our own existential questioning.