Harmonica Player

1919

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Associated Names
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

Artist, German, 1880 - 1938

The image shows a series of lines and shapes creating an abstract composition that suggests human figures. The bold strokes in black and red give the impression of two faces, one positioned slightly above and to the right of the other. The lines have a textured and unfinished quality, resembling graffiti or a sketch. The positioning and orientation of the figures may suggest a conversation between two people.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lithograph in red and deep violet on blotting paper

  • Credit Line

    Ruth and Jacob Kainen Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 32.5 x 27.4 cm (12 13/16 x 10 13/16 in.)
    sheet: 46.5 x 37.8 cm (18 5/16 x 14 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1990.66.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Dube 1967, Vol. (L), no. 341, State b

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Kirchner estate (L.Supp.1570b annotated L 389 II). (Hauswedell & Nolte, Hamburg, June 4, 1977, lot 762); Ruth Cole Kainen [1922-2009], Washington, D.C., (Lugt 4740); gift to NGA, 1990.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2003

  • Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1880-1938, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 2003, no. 173.

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.

1985

  • NGA Kainen Coll. 1985, 17, repro. p.23.

2003

  • Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1880-1938. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2003: no. 173.

Inscriptions

by later hand, lower left in graphite: Sch II 389 II; by later hand, lower left verso in graphite: [?]145b / 1084; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: 237

Wikidata ID

Q74885173

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