The artwork titled “Erna with Cigarette,” created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1915, is an exemplary piece belonging to the Expressionism art movement and falls under the genre of portraiture.
The artwork depicts a woman, identified as Erna, who is sitting and holding a cigarette in her mouth. The composition is marked by bold, dynamic brushstrokes and a vibrant color palette characteristic of the Expressionism movement. The woman’s visage is rendered with exaggerated and stylized features, emphasizing emotional expression over realistic representation. The background, filled with abstract shapes and hues of yellow and green, adds to the overall intensity and emotional depth of the piece. The setting appears intimate, with a tea set arranged in front of the woman, suggesting a casual, possibly introspective moment captured by the artist’s brush.
