Mountain Landscape with Fir Trees

1918/19

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

(German, 1880–1938)

Culture

Germany, 20th century

Medium

graphite and brush and black ink

Support

Cream(2) wove paper

Measurements

Sheet: 34.6 x 50.7 cm (13 5/8 x 19 15/16 in.)

Credit Line

Delia E. Holden and L. E. Holden Funds 1963.86

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Location

Not on view

Description

Following his discharge from the military after a mental and physical breakdown in 1915, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner took refuge at a sanitarium near Davos, Switzerland. The alpine landscape provided a new focus for his work and became a metaphor for his spiritual regeneration. Kirchner sketched this scene with black ink swept over graphite. His viewpoint is one of self-absorption, from within the mountain range rather than from above, a subjective view with vigorous marks that imbue the scene with energy.