Street, Berlin

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner
Street, Berlin
1913 (Early 20th century)

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was born on May 6, 1880 in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, and studied architecture in 1901. Kirchner is well known for being part of the artist group Die Brucke, which translates to “The Bridge”. The start of this artist group was the beginning of German Expressionism which this painting Street, Berlin is part of. What this painting depicts is a night in the city of Berlin in the early 20th century. There are 2 ladies in the foreground of the painting that appears to be somewhat seductive, and men in black suits in the background.

I believe this painting connects to modernism because the painting depicts the big city of Berlin, and Modernism was the start of putting light on Urbanism. Another reason why this painting connects to Modernism is because there is uncertainty in this painting. As you look at the painting, you’re not exactly sure what is going on in the painting, and I’m sure people living in the city of Berlin were unsure of what they were doing too, since they were experimenting.

What drew me to this piece is actually because I recognized and remembered it from an Art History class I took 2 semesters ago. Of course there were many paintings at the MOMA that I’ve recognized through my Art History class; although this one in particular stood out because a semester before I took my Art History class, I took German a a class for my language requirement. Therefore, this German painting struck me quickly due to my small interest in the culture of Germany and hope to visit and explore Germany in the near future. I’ve always been intrigued by the culture and the language of Germany.

Since recognizing the painting from my Art History class, I decided to pull up my old notes and found more in depth facts about the painting. First of all, the ladies in the foreground are actually prostitutes. Kirchner actually painted the prostitutes because as an Artist, he identified with the prostitutes because he felts as if he has to sell himself for money. The painting also illustrates anxiety and alienation in the city with the sharp and angular forms. I feel like the anxiety that is brought from the painting also relates back to modernism again. I believe it relates back to modernism because being in the city, the new start of Urbanism, experimenting new things can involve anxiety for people, because it’s something that you’re not used to, something you’re not comfortable with. Lastly from my notes, the painting was created after Kirchner’s group Die Brucke breaks up, which was a sad moment that could have contributed to the anxiety in the painting.