U1980.3.16-2
Title
U1980.3.16-2
Creator
Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945)
Date
1927
Original Format
Lithograph
Label
Self-Portrait, 1927
Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945)
Lithograph
Unknown source
Did you know? Kathe Kollwitz was an activist.
“It is my duty to voice the sufferings of humankind, the never-ending sufferings
heaped mountain high. This is my task, but it is not an easy one to fulfill.”
One of the most important German artists of the 20th century, Käthe Kollwitz worked in many media to explore the human condition of the poor and sick and the tragedy of war. Internationally recognized, Kollwitz's drawings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts and sculpture are among her most famous Expressionistic works and display her strong social conscience and empathy for the less fortunate, which was also reflected in the literature and poetry of the time. Kollwitz was influenced by the writings of Emile Zola and art of Edvard Munch, Max Klinger and Ernst Barlach. Kollwitz was a socialist and pacifist, affected also by personal tragedy, including the deaths of her son and grandson during WWI and WWII, respectively.
This self-portrait, one of more than 100 that track Kollwitz's life, is an example of the artist's bold graphic style. Her work, studied in conjunction with several Barlach lithographs in University Collections, can spark discussions related to social justice, 20th century war, German history, and literature, among other disciplines.
Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945)
Lithograph
Unknown source
Did you know? Kathe Kollwitz was an activist.
“It is my duty to voice the sufferings of humankind, the never-ending sufferings
heaped mountain high. This is my task, but it is not an easy one to fulfill.”
One of the most important German artists of the 20th century, Käthe Kollwitz worked in many media to explore the human condition of the poor and sick and the tragedy of war. Internationally recognized, Kollwitz's drawings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts and sculpture are among her most famous Expressionistic works and display her strong social conscience and empathy for the less fortunate, which was also reflected in the literature and poetry of the time. Kollwitz was influenced by the writings of Emile Zola and art of Edvard Munch, Max Klinger and Ernst Barlach. Kollwitz was a socialist and pacifist, affected also by personal tragedy, including the deaths of her son and grandson during WWI and WWII, respectively.
This self-portrait, one of more than 100 that track Kollwitz's life, is an example of the artist's bold graphic style. Her work, studied in conjunction with several Barlach lithographs in University Collections, can spark discussions related to social justice, 20th century war, German history, and literature, among other disciplines.
Credit Line
Museums at Washington & Lee University
Citation
Kathe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1945) , “U1980.3.16-2,” Museums at Washington and Lee University: Online Exhibits, accessed May 17, 2024, https://exhibits-museums.omeka.wlu.edu/items/show/414.