The artwork titled “Portrait of Alfred Döblin” is an oil on canvas painting created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1912. It exemplifies the Expressionism movement and measures 50.8 by 41.3 cm. This portrait can be found at the Busch-Reisinger Museum, part of the Harvard Art Museums, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
The painting is characterized by its striking use of vivid colors and dynamic brushstrokes. The subject’s face is rendered in an angular, stylized manner, adhering to the Expressionist preference for emotional evocation rather than realistic representation. The dominant hues are cool blues and lilacs, contrasted with touches of warmer tones, highlighting the contours of the face and the intense expression. The background, composed of abstract forms, seamlessly merges with the figure, creating a sense of unity and emphasizing the psychological depth of the portrait. This piece is a poignant example of Kirchner’s ability to convey profound human emotion through his distinctive artistic style.
