The artwork titled “Boy with Arrow,” created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner around 1928, is an exemplary piece of Expressionism. Rendered in watercolor and wood, this genre painting measures 33.4 x 26.9 cm, encapsulating Kirchner’s distinctive style.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with a dynamic, abstract representation of a boy holding an arrow. The composition is rendered with bold, vibrant colors and exaggerated forms, consistent with the principles of Expressionism. The background reveals a stylized, perhaps dreamlike landscape with trees and mountains depicting an idyllic yet abstract scene. The boy, depicted in earthy tones mixed with vibrant reds and blues, is portrayed in a moment of action, suggesting a narrative imbued with energy and emotion. Kirchner’s use of color and form serves to evoke the internal experiences and emotions of the subject, rather than a literal representation, which is a hallmark of Expressionist art.
