Bathing Couple

1910

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Associated Names
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Artist, German, 1880 - 1938

This is a painting of two abstract figures in a vibrant landscape. The image shows two stylized, nude figures in an abstract form against a dark blue background. The background is blue with black brushstrokes hinting at foliage. The ground is green. One figure is bending forward, while the other is seated with their back turned. The artwork features strong contrasting colors, simplified shapes, and focuses on body language. The style is reminiscent of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, known for vivid colors, dynamic compositions, and expressive forms.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    color woodcut printed in black, blue, green, and red on blotting paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

  • Dimensions

    image: 20.5 x 30.5 cm (8 1/16 x 12 in.)
    sheet: 25 x 35.4 cm (9 13/16 x 13 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.92.135

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Dube 1967, Vol. (W), no. 158, State ii/ii

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Unverkäuflich (shaved off) E.L. Kirchner (described in L.1570a-d). (Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, June 12, 1984, lot 368); (via Wolfgang Wittrock Kunsthandel, Düsseldorf); Ruth Kainen, Washington, D.C.; gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2014

  • Modern German Prints and Drawings from the Kainen Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2014.

Bibliography

1967

  • Dube, Annemarie and Wolf-Dieter Dube. E.L. Kirchner; das graphische Werke. Munich: Prestel-Verlag, 1967, no. (W) 158, ii/ii

Inscriptions

lower right by later hand (Erna Kirchner, see Dube v.1, p.9) in graphite: EL Kirchner; bottom left verso by later hand in brown ink: KFH 23; lower right verso by later hand in blue pencil: 127

Wikidata ID

Q76555602

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