The People (Das Volk)

1922/1923

Käthe Kollwitz

Associated Names
Käthe Kollwitz

Artist, German, 1867 - 1945

Emil Richter Verlag

Publisher

This is a print of stylized faces and hands emerging from a dark background. The faces have intense or sorrowful expressions, with strong lines and contrasts highlighting their details. The hands are depicted prominently, adding a sculptural element to the image. The use of line and form creates a sense of drama and emotion.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on Japanese paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 36 × 30 cm (14 3/16 × 11 13/16 in.)
    sheet: 65 × 48 cm (25 9/16 × 18 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.9439

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Klipstein 1955, no. 180, State vb/vd

  • Series Title

    Plate 7 from War (Krieg)

Associated Artworks

See all 6 artworks
The image depicts the upper half of a person holding a child. The person is in profile facing left, with stark facial features and long flowing hair. The child in their arms has closed eyes. Both figures are drawn with dark lines on a light background, without clothing, jewelry, or objects besides the child. The background is abstract with dark strokes creating a halo effect. The composition is monochromatic, contrasting black ink with light paper.

The Sacrifice (Das Opfer)

Käthe Kollwitz

1922

The image shows a person from the waist up, positioned in a slightly hunched stance with their head bowed down, looking to their right. Their facial features are finely detailed, with prominent lines, and they have dark hair styled tightly against the head. The person wears a long dark garment covering their arms and body. Their arms are crossed over their chest, with hands resting on the opposite arms. The background is plain, using the texture of the material with minimal additional detail, emphasizing the subject's figure in stark contrast.

War (Krieg)

Käthe Kollwitz

1922

This is a woodcut engraving of a person seated with their head resting against their knees, which they are embracing. The person's face is obscured, and they are wearing a long, flowing garment. The background is plain.

The Parents (Die Eltern)

Käthe Kollwitz

1922

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1955

  • Klipstein, August. The Graphic Work of Kathe Kollwitz. New York: Galerie St. Etienne, 1955.

2002

  • Knesebeck, Alexandra von dem. Käthe Kollwitz. Werkverzeichnis der Graphik. 2 vols. Bern: Kornfeld, 2002.

Inscriptions

recto: below image at left in graphite: 50/100; below image at right in graphite: Kathe Kollwitz; at bottom left in graphite in later hand: K. 183 / VII S163; verso: at bottom right in graphite in later hand: B-7763E

Markings

recto: none; verso: National Gallery of Art

Wikidata ID

Q65022912

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