PRINTMAKING - Käthe Kollwitz

Käthe Kollwitz ( 1867 - 1945) was a German Artist who worked mainly with painting, printmaking and sculpture. Her most famous works depicted the effects of poverty, hunger and war on the working class.

I came across a woodcut self portrait that i liked.

Frontal Self-Portrait (Selbstbildnis von vorn)-1922

I firstly love the black and white contrast of this. I like how it is isolating her face. Her face looks so serious. tired and unhappy. Then i came across a series of woodcuts called Krieg ( war) in 1919. These were response to the aftermath of World War 1. The Woodcuts focus on the mothers, widows and children left behind.

The Sacrifice (Das Opfer) (plate 1) from War (Krieg)

The Volunteers (Die Freiwilligen) (plate 2) from War (Krieg)

The Parents (Die Eltern) (plate 3) from War (Krieg). (1921-22, published 1923)

The Widow I (Die Witwe I) (plate 4) from War (Krieg)

The Widow II (Die Witwe II) (plate 5) from War (Krieg)

(1922, published 1923)

The Mothers (Die Mütter) (plate 6) from War (Krieg)

The People (Das Volk) (plate 7) from War (Krieg)

These prints are haunting and i found really hard to process them. The huge black and white contrast makes me really feel the greif and fear.

This one print stood out to me the most...

Die Freiwilligen (The volunteers)

This print is very different because it shows men being led forward by what i think could be death. It is very symbolic and it gives me mixed emotions about the idea or concept of honor and the true sacrifices of it.

Comments

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