From the Apocalypse

1936

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Associated Names
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Artist, German, 1880 - 1938

The image shows a series of wavy and flowing lines across the canvas, creating dynamic shapes and forms. The abstract composition contains figures resembling birds or people with wings, their elongated forms suggesting movement. In the lower portion, there are additional abstract forms that could be interpreted as a gathering of figures, with their limbs blending into each other and the surrounding lines. The scene suggests motion and fluidity, reminiscent of a surreal landscape populated by ethereal beings.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen

  • Dimensions

    image: 30 x 25 cm (11 13/16 x 9 13/16 in.)
    sheet: 52.5 x 35 cm (20 11/16 x 13 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.92.730

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Dube 1967, Vol. (I), no. 650

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Nachlass E.L. Kirchner (L. 1570b) R Da/Bk 1. Jacob Kainen [1909-2001], Washington, D.C. (Lugt 4737), gift from Roman Norbert Ketterer and Ingeborg and Wolfgang Henze; Ruth Kainen [1922-2009], his wife (Lugt 4739); gift to NGA, 2012.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1967

  • Dube, Annemarie and Wolf-Dieter Dube. E.L. Kirchner; das graphische Werke. Munich: Prestel-Verlag, 1967, no. (I) 650

Inscriptions

bottom left by later hand in graphite: 639 / NL 579 (numbers crossed out); lower left verso by later hand in graphite: K 8890 / C-3891; bottom left verso by later hand in black ink: C 3891 / K 8890; bottom right verso by later hand in graphite: 8547

Wikidata ID

Q76557782

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