Selbstbildnis, Zeichnung
ca. 1918
Kirchner drew this haunting self-portrait around 1918, likely while recovering from a mental breakdown triggered by World War I. The jagged, frantic lines of yellow and purple on brown paper make his face look almost skeletal, vibrating with nervous energy. That mysterious red dot on his chest might represent a wound or a beating heart, emphasizing his fragility. It’s a perfect example of Expressionism, where the goal wasn't to look realistic, but to show exactly how the artist felt inside—scared, raw, and alive.