Mountain Village (Staffelalp) with Shepherds and Goats
ca 1919
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner traded his chaotic Berlin street scenes for the quiet isolation of the Swiss Alps around 1919, seeking relief from a severe nervous breakdown. This energetic charcoal sketch captures that retreat, depicting the simple life at the Staffelalp with jagged, expressive strokes. You can see shepherds and goats wandering among rustic huts, rendered with a raw simplicity that feels both peaceful and slightly restless. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how the founder of the German Expressionist group 'Die Brücke' found solace in nature, swapping crowded cities for mountain pastures.
- Technique
- Charcoal on paper