Nude

Art Historical Context

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff's *Nude* (1909) is a striking woodcut that captures the raw energy of German Expressionism. As a founding member of Die Brücke (The Bridge), a radical group formed in Dresden in 1905,-Rottluff rejected traditional academic art in favor of bold, emotional forms inspired by African and Oceanic art, medieval woodcuts, and folk traditions. Created at the height of the group's influence, this print reflects their mission to bridge past and future through direct, primal expression. The woodcut medium—carved into wood blocks and printed on wove paper—holds special significance for Die Brücke artists, who revived this ancient technique to infuse modern art with tactile intensity. Measuring 38.7 × 23.7 cm on the plate, *Nude* showcases Schmidt-Rottluff's mastery of sharp contours, simplified shapes, and dynamic contrasts, evoking the figure's vitality through jagged lines and stark blacks and whites. This approach democratized art, as prints could be produced in editions for wider audiences. Housed in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from Ruth Cole Kainen, *Nude* exemplifies early 20th-century innovation, embodying the Expressionist drive to convey inner truth over outward realism. It's a testament to how printmaking fueled avant-garde rebellion.

About the Artist

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff · 1884–1976

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (1884–1976) was a German painter and printmaker who was a co-founder of Die Brücke (The Bridge), one of the most important groups of the Expressionist movement. Born Karl Schmidt in Rottluff near Chemnitz, he adopted his birthplace as a surname and in 1905, together with Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Fritz Bleyl, and Erich Heckel, founded Die Brücke in Dresden, a group dedicated to ...