The artwork titled “Graef and friend” was created by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner in the year 1914. This artwork falls under the Expressionism art movement and represents the genre of portraiture.
In the artwork, the artist portrays two figures standing close to each other in a suggestive embrace. The painting is rendered with vigorous and bold brushstrokes, characteristic of the Expressionist style, emphasizing emotional depth and intensity. Both figures exhibit distinct, exaggerated facial features and angular contours, underscoring the emotional connection between them. The background is a mélange of earthy and muted colors, which provides a stark contrast to the relatively brighter hues used for the clothing of the subjects. The overall composition conveys a sense of intimacy and camaraderie, encapsulated in the dynamic and expressive execution of the forms.