“The Selling of the Shadow” is a woodcut artwork created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1915. Falling under the Expressionism art movement, this piece is classified as a literary painting and forms part of the series “Peter Schlemihls Wundersame Geschichte.” The artwork is currently housed in the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork is a vivid expressionist woodcut, marked by bold, contrasting colors and sharp, angular forms. Dominated by a combination of deep purples, blacks, and reds, the scene appears to depict a group of figures in a dynamic and somewhat chaotic composition. The figures are highly stylized with fragmented and abstract forms, consistent with Kirchner’s expressionist style. The use of vibrant red highlights draws attention to certain elements within the composition, while the dense and overlapping lines evoke a sense of movement and intensity. The artwork captures a moment filled with emotion and complexity, reflecting Kirchner’s adeptness in conveying dramatic narratives through his distinctive artistic style.
