Portrait of Erna
ca. 1913
German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner captures his muse and lifelong partner, Erna Schilling, in this frantic, energetic sketch from around 1913. The jagged, scribbled lines that form her bobbed hair and heavy-lidded eyes are classic hallmarks of the Die Brücke movement, prioritizing raw emotion over realistic polish. It feels less like a formal portrait and more like a fleeting, psychological snapshot of Berlin's bohemian nightlife just before the outbreak of World War I. Kirchner’s nervous energy is palpable here, turning a simple face into a study of modern anxiety.
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