Bust portrait of a girl facing left in front of birches
1903
Paula Modersohn-Becker was a pioneer of early Expressionism, and you can see her bold style here in this 1903 portrait. She uses thick, chunky brushstrokes to build up the girl's face and the birch trees behind her, almost like she's sculpting with paint. The girl's profile is simplified and serene, staring off into the distance with a quiet intensity that feels very modern for the time. Tragically, Paula died at just 31, but she left behind a legacy of raw, emotional art that broke away from strict realism.
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