Head of a Woman
Medium
carved and painted oak
Dimensions
overall with base: 50.8 x 32.7 x 31.27 cm (20 x 12 7/8 x 12 5/16 in.) overall without base: 35.56 x 14.92 x 16.03 cm (14 x 5 7/8 x 6 5/16 in.) base: 15.2 x 17.8 x 15.2 cm (6 x 7 x 6 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CMC
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Patrons' Permanent Fund
Accession Number
2002.143.1
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**Head of a Woman**, carved and painted oak by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in 1913, captures raw emotional intensity of German Expressionism. Standing about 20 inches tall with its base, this striking sculpture from the National Gallery of Art collection features a woman's head with bold angular features—exagger eyes, a sharp nose, and asymmetrical contours—that evoke inner turmoil and vitality. Kirchner, a founding member of the revolutionary Die Brücke group, inspiration from African and Oceanic art, rejecting classical ideals for a primal, direct approach. Created during Kirchner's Berlin years amid personal struggles and the group's push against academic art, the work exemplifies his mastery of wood as a medium. He hand-carved the oak to retain its natural grain and texture, then applied vibrant paints to heighten expressive distortions, mirroring the psychological depth of his paintings. This fusion of carving and color was innovative, bridging sculpture and painting in Expressionist practice. Acquired through the Patrons' Permanent Fund, *Head of a Woman* invites visitors to feel the pulse of early 20th-century modernism, where art became a visceral cry against industrialization and conformity. Its compact yet powerful presence makes it a highlight for exploring Kirchner's enduring influence on modern sculpture.
About the Artist
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1880–1938
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner was born on May 6, 1880, in Aschaffenburg, Germany, to parents Ernst and Maria Kirchner, part of a family of Prussian descent that frequently relocated due to his father's career as a chemical technician. After early schooling in various towns, he studied architecture at the Königliche Technische Hochschule (Technical University) in Dresden from 1901 to 1905, taking courses i...