The artwork, entitled “Portrait of a Woman,” was created by the Expressionist artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1911. Rendered in oil on canvas, it measures 80.6 x 70.5 cm and is currently housed at the Saint Louis Art Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, US. This piece, fitting into the genre of portraiture, exemplifies the Expressionism movement and typifies Kirchner’s distinctive style.
In “Portrait of a Woman,” the artist employs vibrant, contrasting colors and bold, angular forms to capture the essence of the subject. The woman, dressed in dark clothing that contrasts with the colorful background, is depicted with stylized and exaggerated features typical of Kirchner’s work. The green tones of the woman’s face and the juxtaposition of bright hues create an arresting visual impact, emphasizing emotional expression rather than realistic representation. The use of both organic and geometrical shapes conveys a sense of dynamism and intensity, characteristic of the Expressionist movement. The composition and treatment of the subject reveal Kirchner’s experimental approach to form and color, inviting viewers to engage with the psychological dimensions of the portrait.
